The Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society is a not-for-profit, self-help co-operative and member/user housing organisation.
The Society’s objects or aims are concerned with
~ the relief of housing needs for community benefit,
~ providing housing accommodation suited to the needs and financial circumstances of members,
~ the management and maintenance of co-operative housing estates and apartment buildings.
The Society has a focus on contributing towards the relief of the housing needs of families and single persons, who are willing to accept the responsibilities of co-operative membership, in the Dublin South City liberties area.
Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society currently comprises the member/residents in five inner city co-operative housing developments, comprising social rented family houses and apartment buildings with dwellings for families and single persons, at New Street (Newcourt), South Earl Street, Allingham Street/South Summer Street, Basin Street (Westcourt).
Membership
There are currently over 168 members (families and single persons) using the housing accommodation services managed by the Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society. Each member is a shareholder of the Society.
The member/tenants were all social housing waiting list applicants, assessed by the local authority (Dublin City Council) as being in need of housing. Some were previously deemed to be homeless. They have opted for co-operative housing as a solution to their housing needs.
Co-operative rental housing provides good quality accommodation with security of tenure and affordable rents related to the household income circumstances of each member.
The availability of co-operative social rented housing in the south inner city/Liberties area contributes towards a balanced response to local housing needs.
Management
The Society’s management committee (board of directors) consists mainly of the representatives of the member/residents in the local co-operative housing developments. The members in each local estate/apartment building elect/appoint representatives to the Society’s management board. They share responsibility for the conduct of the Society’s business affairs and monitor the performance of the housing services and estate management.
A small staff team, led by the Society’s manager/secretary, deals with the housing administration, tenancies, rents, caretaking, repairs and maintenance operations.
The local co-operative management committee members are also actively engaged in the estate management and neighbourhood activities.
Recruitment of New Members and Vacancies
The recruitment of new members is related to the availability of co-operative dwellings as the result of vacancies in the existing housing stock, or in the event of a new co-operative housing development. The number of vacancies occurring each year is quite low.
Arrangements are made for the nomination of interested applicants by the relevant local authority (Dublin City Council) from its social housing waiting list, for whom the co-operative dwellings available may provide a suitable housing solution as regards type, size and location.
Applicants are expected to participate in an information and familiarisation programme about co-operative organisation and membership responsibilities, prior to the allocation of membership and a tenancy. This includes details of the tenancy agreement, rents and estate management arrangements.
The right is reserved to refuse membership to applicants where there is a previous poor tenancy record, or a record of anti-social behaviour by the applicant, or members of his/her household, such as may affect the management, upkeep and care of a co-operative housing estate/apartment building.
The Co-operative Housing Society expects fair dealing, solidarity and support from all its members.
Co-operative houses and apartments let to members have provided long term housing solutions, over many years, for families and single persons.
Rents
The rents payable by member/tenants are related to housing management and maintenance costs and their household income circumstances, as assessed each year in April. The notification of a significant ongoing change in the income circumstances may result in a re-assessment and adjustment of the rent payable.
Members undertake in the tenancy agreement to pay the rent due in full and on time and to care for the dwellings let to them.
The rent income is applied towards the ongoing housing management, caretaking, repairs and maintenance costs, with provision towards a reserve fund for cyclical or future costs incurred in the upkeep of the co-operative housing stock, estates and apartment buildings.
Affiliation
The Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society is affiliated to the National Association of Building Co-operatives (NABCo) and its co-operative housing management role has been carried out in tandem with the development of new projects undertaken by the Association, mainly on sites allocated by Dublin City Council, but also acquired directly.
Contact Details
Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.
3, Newcourt,
New Street,
Dublin 8.
Telephone: +
00 353 (0)1 4201012
Fax: +00 353 (0)1 4733417
E-mail:
info@dsccooperativehousing.ie
View: Office Location Map for Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.
View: Structure - Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.
Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society Limited is a registered not-for-profit Industrial and Provident Society. The Society has the status of an approved housing body under Housing Legislation and is recognised as being formed for charitable community benefit purposes by the Revenue Commissioners.
Dublin South City Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. is also affiliated to the National Association of Building Co-operatives.
