Workshop 6 - Co-operative Housing - NorthWest Housing Services

1. A New Era for Co-operative Development
North West Housing Services
23rd
January 2015
Kevin Wan and John McGuigan

2. ∗ Brief History of NWHS
∗ The Housing Co-operative Sector
∗ Opportunities
∗ Barriers
∗ Solutions
Introduction

3. ∗ Formed in 2006 by a consortium of 35 independent
members – majority Housing co-ops
∗ Customer-owned and controlled consortia co-operative
society
∗ Currently 46 full members and additional 30 non-members
∗ NWHS - £2 million turnover
∗ Members cumulative turnover £12m
∗ Manage £250 million of member assets – with low gearing
∗ 32 Highly Qualified Staff
Brief History of NWHS

4. ∗ Alternative to mainstream social housing
∗ Different models – TMO’s, CLT’s, Co-Housing
∗ High levels of satisfaction
∗ Assets Nationally - £2 billion
∗ Low debt/healthy reserves
∗ UK – 0.6% of Social Housing
∗ Sweden 18%, Norway 15%, Austria 8%
The Housing Co-operative Sector

5. ∗ New Affordable Housing
∗ Empty Homes
∗ Larger providers stock rationalisation
∗ Community right to manage – TMO’s
∗ New Models – innovation
∗ HPBC , CLT’S, RBH, STUDENTS, RADICAL ROUTES
∗ New unmet needs from young to old
∗ People before profit
∗ Social Investment
Opportunities

6. ∗ Low Profile – under the radar
∗ Perception of risk
∗ Lack of co-operation/support from the co-op sector
∗ Lack of political support
∗ Protectionism within co-ops
∗ Higher rent levels for new tenants – create disharmony
∗ Target markets / definition of people in housing need
Barriers?

7. ∗ Co-op to Co-op Lending – Principle 6 in action
∗ Professional Image
∗ Increase profile – politically, regionally and locally
∗ Innovative and Creative Solutions!
∗ Different Models – Mutual Home Ownership, CLT’s,
Specialised Housing (Students, Older People)
∗ Affordable rents – one size doesn’t fit all
∗ Effective Support
Solutions