Why pay rent into a landlord’s pocket? An introduction to Housing Co-operatives @SkylarkCoop Facebook.com/skylarkhousingcoop

What is a Co-operative? “An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.”

What is a Housing Co-op? Housing associations governed by tenants/members and give grassroots control over housing. They provide rented housing without landlords, or rather the tenants are collectively their own landlord.

Taking control of one of the most fundamental aspects of our lives Communal Living Transfer property from private property to common ownership Why Housing Co-ops? Affordable rent Good quality accommodation Secure accommodation

Skylark Housing Co-op A Housing Co-operative with a seven bedroom house on the outskirts of Brighton. Aims to create a safe, stable and supportive environment for politically and socially active individuals. On the border between city and countryside we want to demonstrate a different way of living; taking control of our infrastructure, connecting to the community and ecosystem whilst being practical active and egalitarian. We’re currently working on our house to create the space that we aspire to live in

The path to buying our house Skylark was incorporated in 2009 and became members of Radical Routes by a group of people looking to buy a house in Suffolk. - They lost money when buying the house fell through. Skylark was resurrected in 2012, to buy a house in Brighton, with a new membership. August 2012, an offer was put in on the house in Bevendean. Business plan was created with help of Radical Routes finance group. Radical Routes loan applied for, and granted, at summer gathering. Mortgage application submitted to Ecology building society. Loanstock appeal publicised, with update on Radical Routes website, talking to friends and family, and contacting co-ops in Brighton. September 2012, Realised we needed to publicise our loanstock appeal more. Created website, Facebook, twitter made an investor’s pack and held open days. Did fundraising events to pay for publicity, survey, radical routes subscriptions e.t.c. December 2012, mortgage approved. Bureaucracy, Bureaucracy, Bureaucracy. January 2013, Instructed solicitors to commence buying the house March 1st 2013, bought our house!

How We funded It The total we needed to raise was £301,000 even though the cost of the house was only £285,000. Ecology Building Society are one of the few places that will give mortgages to housing coops. Loanstock – loans from individuals and other co-ops.

Radical Routes Radical Routes is a network of radical co-operatives whose members are committed to working for positive social change. Radical Routes is a form of structured mutual aid. In other words, it is based on people helping each other in organised ways. Radical Routes provides loans to member co-ops. Next gathering in Brighton on 15/16th November. All Welcome Being part of Radical Routes means we as a housing co-operative have access to not only Financial services but also the knowledge of the network.