CHIBAH Brighton & Hove Housing Conference 2012 Michael Creedy April 2012©

A society registered as an IPS with the FSA Controlled and managed by its members £1 share Non-equity sharing Not-for-profit: rents cover costs What is a housing co-op?

Benefits of co-operative housing  Sharing responsibility with others  Learning new skills  Sense of community  Being the landlord, getting the repairs done  Sharing expenses  Freedom to put pictures on the walls!  Shared values  Truly affordable rent

Industrial & Provident Society:  Ownership co-ops own the freehold  Self Help co-ops lease from owners  Tenant Managed Organisations take stock  Transfers from LAs or RPs

Governance: Registered Rules Fully Mutual status – all tenants must be members Democracy: First Co-operative Principle: one member, one vote Management: Monthly meetings for all aspects of housing management

Self help: 3 – 30Brighton Rock members Ownership 50 – 400 Two Piers / Coin Street Redditch Co-op Homes TMO transfer 1,100Burrowes Street Gateway 5,000Preston, Watford, etc. Around the world150,000Canada, Japan, Sweden

Brighton RockOut of Town DiggersRingo DryadRosa Bridge HedgehogSeesaw HornbeamStarlings KeepersTwo Piers LorganBug WoodwychAlternity Brighton RockOut of Town DiggersRingo DryadRosa Bridge HedgehogSeesaw HornbeamStarlings KeepersTwo Piers LorganBug WoodwychAlternity

The 19th Century philanthropist Robert Owen asked, “Is it not in the interest of the human race that every one should be so taught to promote the well-being, and happiness, of every man, woman, and child, without regard to their class, sect, party, country or colour?”

A bit of history West Street, Brighton! 1844 Rochdale Pioneers Chartist Co-operative Land Co. 1920s Co-partnership phase 1961Co-ownership phase 1974Co-operative phase

1979 Two Piers Housing Co-op landmark Public Inquiry Shared co-op housing permitted across the UK

 Lack of sustainable finance  1980 Housing Act  1988 Housing Act  Lack of support structures  Undoing the Secondary Co-ops  Hindering quangos  Lack of political support  Public or private?

Consolidated PriceWaterhouse research (1995)  Co-ops offer lower rents  Fewer vacancies  Decent Homes Standard exceeded  97% repairs done on time  94% tenant satisfaction

 “co-operative and mutual housing should be seen as an essential ingredient in local housing strategies”  “by 2030, each town, village and community should be able to offer co-operative and mutual housing options to potential residents”

 New social housing to be funded from profits from rents at up to 80% Market Rent levels.  Many Housing Associations unable or unwilling to develop under this regime.

By 2030, each town, village and community could be able to offer co-operative and mutual housing:  Redditch Co-op Homes model  Starlings: Preston Barracks?  Self Help: £1 million EHCGP?  The “Warehouse” bank facility

 Resilience  Partnerships  Donated or discounted land retained in community ownership  Founded in truly ethical principles  Hope in a challenging world