Definition

A housing cooperative is a legal association formed for the purpose of providing housing to its members on a continuing basis. It is owned and controlled by its members. A cooperative is distinguished from other housing associations by its ownership structure and its commitment to cooperative principles.

Values

Housing cooperatives exist for their members’ mutual benefit. They share with other cooperatives the values of individual responsibility, mutual help, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. They should conduct themselves honestly and openly.

Principles

Open and Voluntary Membership

Cooperative housing should be open to all who can make use of the services provided and are willing and able to accept the responsibilities of membership. Accessibility should be encouraged through the active promotion of membership in housing cooperatives to the full community.

Member recruitment practices should be free of intentional or inadvertent discrimination by reason of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, age, family status, birth or disability. A housing cooperative may provide accommodation on a preferential basis as part of a special programme designed to relieve hardship or economic disadvantage of persons or groups so that they may enjoy equal opportunity.

Housing cooperatives should work to remove any physical, procedural or other barriers that would limit accessibility and prevent the fair and adequate treatment of all.

We are committed to including people with special needs in our movement. The design of our buildings and the organization of our cooperatives should encourage their occupancy, participation and full social integration.

People must be free to decide voluntarily whether or not cooperative housing responds to their needs. No one should be coerced into joining a cooperative and members should be free to withdraw from occupancy with reasonable notice.

Democratic Control by Members

Ownership of a housing cooperative should rest with those who use its services. Non-member households should be limited.

Members of housing cooperatives should have equal voting rights. Membership should be distributed in a manner that encourages equal participation in the cooperative.

Democratic control of housing cooperatives is enhanced by the full sharing of information and the provision of equal opportunities for involvement.

Control of associations of housing cooperatives should be exercised on a democratic basis, as determined by the members of the organization.

Members’ Economic Participation

Members should contribute fairly to the capital of their housing cooperative and share fairly in the results of its operation. The cooperative should allocate surpluses in such a way that no member gains inappropriately at the expense of another. A portion of the cooperative’s capital should be devoted to furthering the cooperative’s long-term aims. Surpluses may be used for this or any of the following purposes:

1. developing the business of the cooperative;
2. providing and improving member services;
3. rewarding members in proportion to their use of the cooperative;
4. supporting further development of the cooperative movement.

Autonomy and Independence

Housing cooperatives are independent organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with governments or other organizations, they should do so freely, and on terms that respect their autonomy.

Education, Training and Information

Solidarity and unity within the cooperative housing movement are promoted through the federation of housing cooperatives in organizations from the local to the international level.

Housing cooperatives practise inter-sectoral cooperation through business and membership links with other types of cooperatives and by lending assistance to cooperative development efforts abroad.

Concern for Community and Future Generations

Wildflower meadow to prevent summer heat island effect in Lutherviertel neighbourhood in Halle, Germany (courtesy of Bauverein Halle & Leuna Housing Cooperative)

Housing cooperatives should strive to meet their members’ needs for affordable, good quality housing, for the security of tenure, and for safe, secure neighbourhoods. They should provide the best quality service at a fair price. They should work to create environments where members give and receive support beyond their shelter needs and treat each other with respect and tolerance.

While existing for the purpose of meeting their members’ needs, housing cooperatives are part of a larger community and have a responsibility to future generations.

They should:

• demonstrate the principles of sustainable human settlements in the design, construction and operation of their buildings;
• contribute to improving the quality of life in their immediate neighbourhood;
• treat their employees fairly and with respect;
• uphold principles of social justice in all their affairs;
• manage their resources wisely over time so that future generations may continue to enjoy the benefit of the housing cooperative’s services; seek the growth of the cooperative housing movement in their own countries and abroad.