4. MAINTENANCE
DUTIES
• Overall responsibility to keep all areas of the house and property in good and clean condition.
• Overall safety and maintenance.
• Limit access to house to authorized persons only.
• Fire safety – daily common areas fire safety systems check.
• Minor maintenance (e.g. change light bulbs).
• House Manager to report property damage to head office.
• House Manager to report broken appliances to maintenance office.
• House Manager to request cleaning/bathroom supplies as required.
• Create Chore Schedules, Communicate expectations and Fine accordingly
6. KITCHEN CLEAN UP
DUTIES
WIPE ALL SURFACES: COUNTERS,
TABLES, CABINET DOORS, STOVE,
MICROWAVE
BRING OUT
GARBAGE/COMPOSTING/RECYCLI
NG
PUT AWAY DISHES
SWEEP THE FLOOR/REMOVE ANY
GARBAGE
Schedules:
Rotating schedule
Everyone is responsible for KCU
Multiple kitchens can get divided
by floor and rotated through
appropriately
Single kitchens in large houses
can be divided up between two
people as needed
7. KCU SCHEDULE EXAMPLE Rotating KCU:
620 2nd Floor Example
JANUARY 2015
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
28 29 30 31 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 Suki
Change
Green bin
9 Lilin 10 Lin
Change
Green bin
11 12 Chris
Change
Green bin
13 Suki 14 Lilin
Change
Green bin
15 Lin 16 Chris 17 Suki
Change
Green bin
18 19 Lilin 20 Lin
Change
Green bin
21 Chris 22 Mariam
Change
Green bin
23 Suki 24 Lilin
Change
Green bin
25 26 Lin 27 Chris
Change
Green bin
28 Mariam 29 Suki
Change
Green bin
30 Lilin 31 Lin
Change
Green bin
Note:
10. WEEKLY CHORES
BATHROOMS: Divide the duties based on floor, everyone is responsible for the
bathroom closest to them
KITCHEN(S): One shared kitchen may need to be divided into multiple duties,
multiple kitchens get divided by floor
COMMON ROOM: Vacuum, put things in their place and clean any spills or
garbage
FRONT HALL/STAIRWAYS: Sweep, Mop and Vacuum (when appropriate)
WINDOWS: Windows can get done with each room, or it can be a set task every
week
PORCH/YARD & WALKWAY: Seasonal, clear leaves, snow or garbage. Ensure the
yard is respectable and cleared of any debris. Sweep the front steps.
GARBAGE: Take out garbage on garbage day, clean up the area where the bins
are kept
LAUNDRY ROOM: Sweep, dust and clear away debris or garbage, Wash any house
laundry (towels, cloths etc.)
ANY OTHER SHARED SPACES: You may want to skip weekly chores (bathroom and
kitchens excepted) and have a big project that everyone participates in
12. GARBAGE DAY
MAKE SURE THAT GARBAGE IS OUT ON TUESDAY MORNING
Garbage should be a scheduled chore that is due every Monday night
If the garbage chore is missed, or the person assigned is away the
house manager should ensure the garbage is out.
Please post the Garbage Collection Schedule
Ensure that members are bringing out the correct bins, compost
should be put out every week.
14. FINES
INCOMPLETE HOUSE CHORE: $10
MISSED HOUSE CHORE: $15
MISSED HOUSE MEETING (without exemption): $10
PROCEDURES:
Make sure chore schedules are posted clearly and are accessible to
members.
Communicate with your housemates.
Allow housemates to complete chores within a reasonable amount of
time.
Give a warning, but fine consistently.
16. STEP-BY-STEP
REMAIN CALM:
1) CENTRE YOURSELF
2) IGNORE ANY PERSONAL
ATTACKS OR ANGER
DIRECTED AT YOURSELF OR
OTHERS
3) BE PREPARED TO FOCUS
ON THE SPEAKER AND
PROVIDE OPEN & RESPECTFUL
LISTEN:
1)BE ATTENTIVE AND MAKE IT
CLEAR YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN THE SPEAKERS CONCERNS
2) DO NOT INTERRUPT, IF
APPROPRIATE TAKE NOTES
WHILE THE PERSON IS
SPEAKING TO KEEP TRACK OF
ANY THOUGHTS OR
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGE AND REFLECT
1)PAUSE BEFORE RESPONDING
2) MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE
SPEAKER THAT YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY
SAID
3)REFLECT ON WHAT YOU
HAVE HEARD
4) MAKE SURE YOU
UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES
ASK QUESTIONS
1) CLARIFY ANY INFORMATION THAT
IS MISSING OR THAT YOU ARE
UNSURE OF
2) ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS TO
ALLOW THE SPEAKER TO EXPRESS
AND UNCOVER WHY THE ISSUE IS
IMPORTANT TO THEM WITHOUT
PROVOKING THEM (How did that
affect you? What happened next?)
3) AVOID ACCUSATORY LANGUAGE
PROBLEM SOLVING:
1) ONCE YOU HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION MOVE TOWARDS A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION
2) INVITE THE SPEAKER AND ALL
PARTIES INVOLVED TO MAKE
SUGGESTIONS OF SOLUTIONS
(What do you suggest? What do
you think is an equitable
solution?)
3) OFFER SOME SOLUTIONS AND
CHOICES
1. REMAIN CALM
2. LISTEN
3. ACKNOWLEDGE
& REFLECT
4. ASK QUESTIONS
5. PROBLEM SOLVE
18. COMMUNITY OUTREACH
As a member of co-op you are expected to foster and build
community
As a house manager you are a leader within the community
The other members will look to you to facilitate positive relations
between your housemates, and the wider co-op community
Being a social, friendly and approachable person is key to being a
successful house manager
It is important that you are aware and knowledgeable about co-op
by-laws, procedures and general happenings
Planning house meetings and social events can enhance cohesiveness
within your house, and make co-op a more enjoyable place to live
23. REQUESTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
For non-emergency requests encourage your housemates to email
Bernadette: Keep an inventory of cleaning supplies, and request them
before you run out
As house manager you may be asked to communicate with
maintenance on your housemates behest
Having a positive working relationship with maintenance is very
important, make sure you are communicating in a respectful and
professional manner
As a member of co-op staff you are expected to not just report
maintenance issues but to investigate those issues as well.
If there is a maintenance issue in the common spaces or exteriors of
the house ensure that you notify maintenance ASAP
For emergencies contact Bernadette:
27. SOCIAL
MEDIA/EMAIL
CREATE A PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP
ADD ALL CURRENT HOUSEMATES, UPDATE
WHEN NEW HOUSEMATES MOVE IN
SEND OUT NOTIFICATION EMAILS or
FACEBOOK POSTS
ENCOURAGE HOUSEMATES TO POST
EVENTS ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE
POST CHORE SCHEDULES AND HOUSE
MEETING AGENDAS ON THE WEB
YOU CAN CREATE DOODLE POLLS TO
TRACK YOUR HOUSEMATES
AVAILABILITIES
28. BULLETIN BOARDS
BULLETIN BOARDS ARE A GREAT WAY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH HOUSEMATES AND
TO FOSTER COMMUNITY
NEEDS TO BE POSTED:
IMPORTANT NOTICES
FIRE & SAFETY PROCEDURES
A COPY OF THE CHORE SCHEDULE
THE GARBACE COLLECTION SCHEDULE
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
GET CREATIVE!!
