Student Housing Cooperatives

The Student Housing Crisis

The issue of access to affordable and secure accommodation has been a major concern for students all over the world. Financial insecurity and housing precarity can limit students’ ability to focus on their studies and, in extreme cases, force them to drop out of education. It also can impact students’ mental and physical health.

The Cooperative Solution

Fortunately, student housing cooperatives have emerged as a viable solution to this problem. Based on democratic and anti-speculative principles, cooperatives are an efficient alternative to the traditional housing market by providing affordable rents and a supportive community. Several examples in the European region show the potential of this model, e.g. La Ciguë in Geneva who won the silver World Habitat Award in 2024. However, it remains too little known, and better conditions are needed for it to either develop pilot projects or scale up existing initiatives. Inspired by the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO), an alliance of nearly 40 student housing cooperatives, European student housing cooperatives came together and created a movement to support and scale up this housing model in Europe. 

Student Housing Cooperatives Around the Globe

L’ACLEF (France)

Founded by a group of students, ACLEF promotes and develops practical, innovative solutions for student accommodation. With offices in Île-de-France and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the association continues to invent, develop and support new projects to tackle the student housing crisis together.

ACRED (Budapest, Hungary)

The Alliance for Collaborative Real Estate Development (ACRED), is a non-profit, democratically governed professional organization. It develops and manages long-term, affordable, collectively-owned spaces for democratic communities and individuals working for social causes.

Belfast Housing Co-op (NUS/USI) (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

Working with Student Co-op Homes, NUS/USI, Co-operative Alternatives, Member Organisations, and any other relevant stakeholders in the design of a potential pilot project.

Birmingham Student Housing Cooperative  (BSCH) (Birmingham, England)

BSHC opened its doors in July 2014. Since then, it has provided a different housing option for students in Birmingham who are seeking a cooperative and democratic way of living. This provides an alternative to the typical student experience of renting in the overpriced and undemocratic private sector.

Bristol Student Housing Co-operative (Bristol, England)

A student-led housing co-operative in Bristol, founded during the 2020–21 rent strikes, working to create affordable, democratic housing—and now actively seeking a property and funding to make it a reality.

Canberra Student Housing Co-operative (Canberra, Australia)

The Canberra Student Housing Co-operative was established in 2010 by a group of students committed to providing secure, affordable, quality housing for students in Canberra based on a cooperative model. They seek to create a home that fosters opportunity for personal expression and shared learning; a home where people share responsibility and can learn from and support each other.

Campus Co-operative Residences (Toronto, Canada)

Located in the heart of Toronto, Campus Co-op is Canada’s oldest student housing cooperative, providing affordable, off-campus accommodation for post-secondary students since 1936. Campus Co-op owns and operates twenty-three houses, providing an affordable housing community for nearly two hundred and fifty residents, upholding the original values of group aid, democratic control and cooperation.

Caracol (France)

Caracol launched in 2018 as France’s first intercultural, supportive, and temporary housing model. It opened its first residence in 2019. The initiative repurposes vacant buildings to offer temporary housing for refugees, young people, and local residents

La Ciguë  (Geneva, Switzerland)

Founded in 1986, La Ciguë is a self-managed, non-profit housing cooperative dedicated to students. It provides low-cost, communal living spaces and promotes ecological practices and collective decision-making. From the beginning, it has upheld strong principles of participation and sustainability.

Collegium Academicum (Heidelberg, Germany)

Located on the former US hospital site in Heidelberg-Rohrbach, the Collegium Academicum is a self-managed student dormitory, education hub, and cultural center. Built from innovative wooden materials, the complex features 46 residential units, a common room, and an auditorium with a rooftop terrace—merging affordable housing with environmental design.

Cork Student Housing Co-operative (Cork, Ireland)

Cork Student Housing Co-op is a student- and alumni-led initiative creating not-for-profit, democratically run housing as a sustainable alternative to the exploitative student rental market. Grounded in mutual aid and solidarity, it offers affordable, community-led accommodation in response to Ireland’s housing crisis.

Dublin Student Housing Co-operative (Dublin, Ireland)

Working to create affordable student owned housing for university students and postgrad workers in Dublin.

Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative (Edinburgh, Scotland)

This cooperative consists of two properties at 28 and 34 Wright’s Houses. Just a 15-minute walk or a five-minute bike ride from the University of Edinburgh, the co-op offers students affordable, self-governed housing and a supportive community.

European Student Cooperative Housing Alliance (ESCHA) (Europe)

ESCHA is a network of student-led housing cooperatives and advocates across Europe, dedicated to advancing affordable, self-managed housing for students.

Inter Campus Co-operative Notts (Nottingham, England)

Initiative for an Independent Student Housing Co-operative run by and for students.

Kingston Student Housing Co-op (Kingston, Canada)

The cooperative own 21 houses with 171 bedrooms for post-secondary students. Houses are located within a 10-minute walk to Queens University. The organization is managed by staff and is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of nine student members.  They diligently follow their Mission Statement which is “to offer an affordable, sustainable co-operative student housing community of excellent quality”.

Manchester Student Housing Co-operative (MaSH) (Manchester, England)

The Manchester Student Housing Co-operative, also known as MaSH, is a student-led initiative aiming to provide affordable and sustainable housing in Manchester. It operates as a cooperative, meaning it’s owned and managed by its student members. MaSH aims to offer housing that is integrated with the wider community and encourages activities like activism and arts. 

MuSt (Florence, Italy)

A student cooperative born in October 2021 composed of students from the University of Florence.

Neill-Wycik Co-operative College (Toronto, Canada)

Home to over 780 post-secondary students, Neill-Wycik also operates as a hotel during the summer months. Founded in 1966 by students from Ryerson University, it was created in response to a shortage of accessible student housing. Today, each member actively contributes to the building’s sustainability through shared responsibilities.

North American Students for Co-operation (NASCO) (Canada & USA)

Established in 1946, NASCO supports group-equity housing cooperatives across North America. It focuses on education, advocacy, and development, offering resources and training to promote democratic governance and long-term viability in student co-ops. NASCO plays a key role in connecting and strengthening the campus cooperative movement throughout Canada and the U.S.

Republics of Coimbra (Coimbra, Portugal)

The Republics of Coimbra are self-managed student cooperatives with roots dating back to 1309, blending centuries-old traditions of community, democracy, and solidarity. Originating as affordable housing for students, they continue to embody shared governance and cultural heritage in the heart of the city.

SEASALT Housing Co-operative (Brighton and Hove, England)

SEASALT (South East Students Autonomously Living Together) is a student-led housing cooperative founded by University of Sussex students. It provides affordable, democratic, and sustainable housing just 15 minutes on foot—or five minutes by bike—from campus. The initiative reflects a strong commitment to student autonomy and long-term community living.

STUCCO (Sydney, Australia)

STUCCO is a democratically managed student housing cooperative. Stucco began as a co-op for low-income students of Sydney University. Situated in the heart of Newtown, STUCCO houses a total of 40 people in 8 self-contained units. There are six 5-bedroom terraces and two 5-bedroom flats, all of which face onto a fantastic, leafy courtyard.

Studentendorf (Berlin, Germany)

The Studentendorf villages are in Berlin near the Free University of Berlin and in Adlershof on the campus of the Humboldt University. The student villages are lively homes and offer students from all over the world a place to live and work in a relaxed manner.

Student Co-op Homes UK (United Kingdom)

Student Co-op Homes is a national member led cooperative controlled by student housing co-ops and investor supporter members. It is established to promote, enable and scale-up student co-operative housing in the UK.

UTILE (Quebec, Canada)

Student housing and financial innovation for inclusive and sustainable cities. UTILE’s mission is to develop and operate affordable student housing while promoting issues relating to improving student living conditions and reducing pressure on the rental market.

Waterloo Co-operative Residence (Waterloo, Canada)

With ten properties, WCR is the largest student housing coop in North America. Built, owned & run by students.

Woonvereniging LA26 (Wageningen, Netherlands)

Coöperatieve Woonvereniging LA26 in Wageningen is a resident-owned housing cooperative where members manage the building collectively, set their own rent based on actual costs, and learn practical skills through hands-on maintenance—offering young people a unique blend of affordable living, responsibility, and community.

York Non-Profit Housing Society Co-op (Toronto, Canada)

The York Non-Profit Housing Society Co-operative is an initiative launched by the York Village Housing Association in 2021 to bring safe, clean, affordable and community-oriented housing to young adults in York University Heights and/or Black Creek community.

Resources

The Organizer’s Handbook by the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) is a comprehensive guide to creating group-equity housing cooperatives. It covers the cooperative movement, campus and community organizing, nonprofit incorporation, financing, and housing development. This essential resource demystifies a challenging project and is perfect for students and community organizers focusing on housing issues. While this edition focuses on group equity cooperatives, many resources are useful for organizing student, community, and non-housing coops.

Academic Research

This repository of academic research on student housing cooperatives lists articles and book chapters, edited collections, student dissertations and reports. If you have suggestions for articles to add, please get in touch via the contact page.