Great article. Co-operative housing much more numerous across Europe. Could it be part of the solution to the current lack of affordable housing in Manchester and elsewhere?
Judging by the long waiting list here it’s certainly popular. Surprising that the number of such co-operatives in Greater Manchester has actually declined. Could be worth an article investigating why?
Hey Paul - so I did read a book (which I wouldn't recommend - a bit too dry, even despite my passion for this topic) on British housing co-operatives, 'Housing Co-operatives' by John Hands, the leading expert on this. I don't have the book to hand, but here's a quote that I sent myself which explains more on this - effectively there used to be more co-ops because there was national support for co-operatives and grants available. There even used to be a national body which was founded to promote co-operatives:
"In December 1976 Housing Minister Reg Freeson launched the CHA, describing its work as “the most important and challenging in the current housing scene.” Its overall strategy was to build firm foundations on which a cooperative housing movement could grow and continue to develop rather than quickly blossom and equally quickly wither away as it had done in previous attempts to develop co-operative housing in Britain…In its first year the CHA made grants totalling £70,000 to support co-operative education, management, and training. By June 1978 there were 161 active co-operative housing groups, with 3,295 homes or flats in cooperative ownership".
Sorry, I don't off the top of my head remember what CHA stood for (have googled "Co-operative Housing Association" and not come up with much), but I do remember that the CHA was shut down pretty quickly. There's a longer answer to this with more extensive reference to housing law, but (from memory of what I've read) effectively I think the 70s and 80s were largely a golden period for co-ops with a descent from the 90s onwards. That's a national pattern rather than a specifically Mancunian one - but yes, would be interesting to look into local policy on this.
Hi Sophie thanks for detailed response. As it happens I remember the 1980s and was living in a Housing Co-operative!
It was part of a bigger campaign in Waterloo on the South Bank in London to provide affordable housing for families and single people. They’re still there and working in an area that has seen huge gentrification.
Like your example in Hulme they do have their tensions but in the run up to a General Election and the impossibility for those on average incomes, especially those under 35, to find good quality housing to rent in cities such as Manchester maybe they are due a revival.
As you indicate they need an advocate at national and local level. Given the historic connections of the Co-operative movement in Greater Manchester and the existence of the Co-operative Party sponsored MPs maybe it could start here?
I loved reading this. We need more housing coops like Homes for Change. I imagine everyone has a story about an awful landlord, they are all too common these days. As one of the residents says, there's a relief in knowing that your landlord isn't going to behave like a massive turd. There's security and relief in that. Thank you! Looking forward to reading the next interview.
Hey Ros, thanks so much for reading. Yeah, having heard plenty of horror stories about landlords from friends, think having such a stable living situation (rent not able to be suddenly spiked by a huge amount etc) sounds pretty precious!
This seems like such a great place. Tensions will always arise with co-operative living schemes , i hope they get the points discussed sorted out to enable them to just live.
My neighbours have cats and unfortunately I have problems in my front garden. I have to resort to all sorts of tactics to deter them but when the foliage grows the problems decrease. In the meantime I bag it up and leave it for the neighbours to deal with , job done. I told them I was going to do this and although I'm not happy about it I feel as if I'm taking control of a problem to take the heat out of the situation.
You don't need to live in a co-operative housing scheme to encounter problems such as these .
Hi team, thanks for the article by Sophie very interesting and thought provoking of how co-operative living could be successful in other parts of the region. I'm looking forward to the article on Charlie Baker and his creation Homes for Change Hulme. Keep up the good work. I don't live in the area but work at Exchange Quay and visit Chorlton weekly to go to church at RedeemerMCR in the Oswald Road Primary school.
Hi Paul, thanks for your feedback. Agree that it would be interesting to see co-operative living spread more widely — obviously, communal living will always entail friction, but think in general, the benefits of stable rent, living so close to so many neighbours, community etc. surely outweigh the negatives.
Fascinating article, particularly as I used to live in Homes for Change from when it opened in the 90's until 2011. I loved the sense of community (one of the reasons I stayed for so long) but have to admit that trying to persuade everyone to contribute to the day to day running of the place was always an issue - not just prospective members but also those that already lived there. A personal commitment to contribution of some form was (in the tenancy agreement) rated as important as paying your rent and whilst (eventually) some members lost their tenancies due to persistent non-payment of rent, as the article makes clear, no-one was ever removed due to lack of contribution - which, too my mind, rather defeated the object. As with many voluntary endeavours/projects/organisations, the same few people seemed to be doing most of the work most of the time, which could cause resentments to bubble up. But overall, I'm really glad I was a part of Homes for Change's journey and still feel nostalgic and a sense of pride whenever I think of the place.
Great article. Co-operative housing much more numerous across Europe. Could it be part of the solution to the current lack of affordable housing in Manchester and elsewhere?
Judging by the long waiting list here it’s certainly popular. Surprising that the number of such co-operatives in Greater Manchester has actually declined. Could be worth an article investigating why?
Hey Paul - so I did read a book (which I wouldn't recommend - a bit too dry, even despite my passion for this topic) on British housing co-operatives, 'Housing Co-operatives' by John Hands, the leading expert on this. I don't have the book to hand, but here's a quote that I sent myself which explains more on this - effectively there used to be more co-ops because there was national support for co-operatives and grants available. There even used to be a national body which was founded to promote co-operatives:
"In December 1976 Housing Minister Reg Freeson launched the CHA, describing its work as “the most important and challenging in the current housing scene.” Its overall strategy was to build firm foundations on which a cooperative housing movement could grow and continue to develop rather than quickly blossom and equally quickly wither away as it had done in previous attempts to develop co-operative housing in Britain…In its first year the CHA made grants totalling £70,000 to support co-operative education, management, and training. By June 1978 there were 161 active co-operative housing groups, with 3,295 homes or flats in cooperative ownership".
Sorry, I don't off the top of my head remember what CHA stood for (have googled "Co-operative Housing Association" and not come up with much), but I do remember that the CHA was shut down pretty quickly. There's a longer answer to this with more extensive reference to housing law, but (from memory of what I've read) effectively I think the 70s and 80s were largely a golden period for co-ops with a descent from the 90s onwards. That's a national pattern rather than a specifically Mancunian one - but yes, would be interesting to look into local policy on this.
Hi Sophie thanks for detailed response. As it happens I remember the 1980s and was living in a Housing Co-operative!
It was part of a bigger campaign in Waterloo on the South Bank in London to provide affordable housing for families and single people. They’re still there and working in an area that has seen huge gentrification.
Like your example in Hulme they do have their tensions but in the run up to a General Election and the impossibility for those on average incomes, especially those under 35, to find good quality housing to rent in cities such as Manchester maybe they are due a revival.
As you indicate they need an advocate at national and local level. Given the historic connections of the Co-operative movement in Greater Manchester and the existence of the Co-operative Party sponsored MPs maybe it could start here?
I loved reading this. We need more housing coops like Homes for Change. I imagine everyone has a story about an awful landlord, they are all too common these days. As one of the residents says, there's a relief in knowing that your landlord isn't going to behave like a massive turd. There's security and relief in that. Thank you! Looking forward to reading the next interview.
Hey Ros, thanks so much for reading. Yeah, having heard plenty of horror stories about landlords from friends, think having such a stable living situation (rent not able to be suddenly spiked by a huge amount etc) sounds pretty precious!
Interesting article. Thank you.
Appreciate you reading and commenting, and hope you enjoy the follow up.
This seems like such a great place. Tensions will always arise with co-operative living schemes , i hope they get the points discussed sorted out to enable them to just live.
My neighbours have cats and unfortunately I have problems in my front garden. I have to resort to all sorts of tactics to deter them but when the foliage grows the problems decrease. In the meantime I bag it up and leave it for the neighbours to deal with , job done. I told them I was going to do this and although I'm not happy about it I feel as if I'm taking control of a problem to take the heat out of the situation.
You don't need to live in a co-operative housing scheme to encounter problems such as these .
Yes, that's a good point! (And the bag tactic sounds like a good compromise)
Hi team, thanks for the article by Sophie very interesting and thought provoking of how co-operative living could be successful in other parts of the region. I'm looking forward to the article on Charlie Baker and his creation Homes for Change Hulme. Keep up the good work. I don't live in the area but work at Exchange Quay and visit Chorlton weekly to go to church at RedeemerMCR in the Oswald Road Primary school.
Hi Paul, thanks for your feedback. Agree that it would be interesting to see co-operative living spread more widely — obviously, communal living will always entail friction, but think in general, the benefits of stable rent, living so close to so many neighbours, community etc. surely outweigh the negatives.
Fascinating article, particularly as I used to live in Homes for Change from when it opened in the 90's until 2011. I loved the sense of community (one of the reasons I stayed for so long) but have to admit that trying to persuade everyone to contribute to the day to day running of the place was always an issue - not just prospective members but also those that already lived there. A personal commitment to contribution of some form was (in the tenancy agreement) rated as important as paying your rent and whilst (eventually) some members lost their tenancies due to persistent non-payment of rent, as the article makes clear, no-one was ever removed due to lack of contribution - which, too my mind, rather defeated the object. As with many voluntary endeavours/projects/organisations, the same few people seemed to be doing most of the work most of the time, which could cause resentments to bubble up. But overall, I'm really glad I was a part of Homes for Change's journey and still feel nostalgic and a sense of pride whenever I think of the place.