Paula FarrowBoard of Management – CDS Co-operativesChair – Minster Housing Co-operative

The important role of Housing Co-operatives in giving tenants more control

What is a housing co-op?• housing co-ops are groups of people who live in and collectively own

and manage their homes. • they are very similar to housing associations, but are managed (either

entirely, or mainly) by their tenants.• they democratically take responsibility for arranging repairs, making

decisions about rent, who joins or leaves the co-op and many other issues, often employ a service provider to carry out certain duties

• they provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to their development.

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‘a co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise’International Co-operative Alliance

Tenants taking control - co-ops:• build balanced communities where all members of society want

to and can live together• build sustainable communities that can survive without external

support • play a key role at the heart of the community• decisions are taken by people who live in the neighbourhood• if people feel that their neighbourhood belongs to them, they will

look after it• encourage community self-responsibility which creates

individual motivation and self-reliance

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• suitability to tenants - technologies need to be suitable to the tenant demographic

• long term maintenance issues• may need maintenance specialists• parts difficult to get• maintenance contractors may not have the credentials to clear

financial credit checks• new technologies – not enough research into carbon footprint

and maintenance

New technologies in our properties – what we would want architects to consider

• Co-ops UK’s 2010 Greener Together project raised awareness of tenants general behaviour and created beneficial changes with a collective impact

• co-operatives can integrate climate change and sustainable consumption patterns into their statutes

• Energy Performance Certificates needed by law, more likely to be looked at by co-op officers

• need more information about local funding and technology sources – may need advice and financial aid

Energy efficiency – what we would want architects to consider

Sanford Housing Co-op, London• Built in 1970• 14 purpose built shared

houses, with 140 residents

Carbon C60 project has reduced carbon emissions by over 60%, using:• solar water heating• insulating cavity walls• biomass boilers• built organic gardens

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Sanford Housing Co-op, London• grey water recycling• refurbished kitchens using recycled products• green training and awareness• new bicycle storage area made from railway sleepers• won Inside Housing Award 2008

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