The Munster Co-operative Housing Society is a self-help co-operative and member/user organisation formed to relieve housing needs for community benefit and to provide and manage housing accommodation suited to the needs and financial circumstances of members in local co-operative housing developments.
The Society has a focus on the organisation of local co-operative housing developments with member/user/resident involvement in the ongoing estate management and caretaking responsibilities.
This includes productive arrangements with local authorities to provide pathways to satisfactory co-operative social rented and affordable ownership housing solutions.
The Society also works with other local community organisations interested in the contribution which well organised co-operative housing can make to a socially balanced and sustainable range of housing options and tenures in their areas.
Membership
The membership of the Society currently consists of the residents in co-operative housing developments at Kenmare, Co. Kerry and Rathcormac, Co. Cork, together with others interested in the development of co-operative housing in the Munster regions.
The co-operative member/rental tenants were all local authority social housing waiting list applicants, assessed by the local authority as being in need of housing and nominated as interested applicants for co-operative social rented housing. Purchasers of co-operative affordable ownership dwellings are recruited from the local authority affordable housing list of qualified modest income applicants interested in co-operative housing as a solution to their needs.
Co-operative rental housing provides good quality accommodation with security of tenure and rents which are related to the household income circumstances of members, rather than market level rents. This contributes towards a more socially balanced response to local housing needs, with the involvement of members in the ongoing upkeep and care of their housing estates.
Management
The Society’s management committee (board of directors) consists of representatives of the member/residents and others interested in the organisation and development of more new co-operative housing developments.
The Society has worked in tandem with the National Association of Building Co-operatives and local authorities to achieve worthwhile co-operative housing solutions for persons/families in need of housing who are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.
Rents and other income are applied towards management and maintenance of the co-operative housing stock, including provision towards a reserve for future cyclical and other maintenance costs.
Recruitment of New Members and vacancies
The recruitment of new members is related to the availability of dwellings in new cooperative housing developments, or as the result of vacancies in the existing housing stock.
Arrangements are made from the nomination of interested applicants by the relevant local authority from its social housing and affordable housing waiting lists. All applicants are required to participate in an advance co-operative information and familiarisation programme before membership or the allocation of a dwelling may proceed.
Contact Details:
The Secretary,
Munster Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.
Cuil Greine House, Ballincollig Business Park, Link Road, Co. Cork.
Telephone: +00 353 (0)21 4879010
E-mail: info@munstercocop.ie
Munster 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.
Munster Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. is also affiliated to the National Association of Building Co-operatives.
