The National Association of Building Co-operatives seeks to encourage housing policies at the national and local levels which
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recognise the distinct qualities of organised self-help and joint-effort which co-operatives can bring to the delivery and management of housing;
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facilitate the contribution which well organised co-operative housing societies can make to improving housing options and choices for different and changing needs in the population;
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include support for co-operative housing in local authority service objectives and plans as a valued and distinct part of responses to social and affordable, rental and ownership accommodation needs,
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assist access to building land and funding schemes which are supportive of co-operative housing expansion and the speedy delivery of new projects/developments.
Circulars and Schemes relevant to the promotion and development of Co-operative Housing issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are:-
- Circular VCH 1/05 : Co-operative Housing
- Memorandum VHU2/02 : Capital Funding Schemes for the Provision of Rental Housing by Approved Housing Bodies (Voluntary and Co-operative Housing)
- VCH 2/08 Capital Funding Schemes – Voluntary and Co-operative Housing
Revised arrangements for the Appraisal, Approval and Implementation of Voluntary and Co-operative Housing Projects.
- Low Cost Subsidised Sites Scheme.
A key characteristic of Co-operatives is that they are member/user organisations. The members are represented on the management committees or boards of directors which conduct their co-operatives’ business affairs and are involved in monitoring the performance of the housing projects and services, including the upkeep of estates or apartment buildings.
The operation of district/area co-operative housing societies, comprising networks of the member/residents in local co-operative housing developments, provides the means to avoid duplication of organisational and overhead costs, pools resources for engagement of staff and facilitates good performance standards for estate management and maintenance.