Housing Co-operatives
Housing co-operatives are organisations that own and manage homes for their members. Residents are members of the co-operative, which gives them security of tenure and democratic control over their housing — unlike private renting.
How It Works
Each household becomes a member, with one vote per household. The co-operative sets rents, maintains the property, and manages the community. Surplus (if any) is reinvested in the housing stock or facilities.
Legal Structure
Common structures include: fully mutual housing co-ops (members must be tenants), and tenant ownership co-ops (where residents own their homes collectively through the co-op). Both are usually registered with the FCA as IPS.
Housing Co-ops in the UK
Leeds Community Homes
Leeds, England
Leeds Community Homes is a community-led housing organisation that helps groups of people come together to create afford…
Durham Mutual Home
Durham, England
Durham Mutual Home is a small housing co-operative providing affordable, ethically managed homes for its members in Durh…
Birmingham Cohousing
Birmingham, England
Birmingham Cohousing is an intergenerational cohousing community in Stirchley, south Birmingham, where residents are mem…
Scottish Housing Co-op Alliance
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scottish Housing Co-op Alliance is a federation supporting small housing co-operatives across Scotland, providing go…
Manchester Cohousing Project
Manchester, England
Manchester Cohousing Project is a member-led group developing an intergenerational cohousing community in south Manchest…
Sanford Housing Co-op
London, England
Sanford Housing Co-op in New Cross is one of the UK's longest-running housing co-operatives, providing 125 member-manage…
LILAC
Leeds, England
LILAC (Low Impact Living Affordable Community) is an award-winning cohousing community in Leeds, structured around mutua…
Lancaster Cohousing
Lancaster, England
Lancaster Cohousing is an eco-cohousing community at Forgebank, with 41 Passivhaus-certified homes, shared facilities in…
Cannock Mill Cohousing
Colchester, England
Cannock Mill Cohousing is a senior cohousing community in Colchester, developed and managed by residents who want indepe…
CDS Co-operatives
London, England
CDS Co-operatives supports housing co-ops and community-led housing across London and the South East, providing manageme…