Frequently Asked Questions
What is a housing co-operative?
To us, a housing cooperative is a community of people who voluntarily work together to meet their common need for affordable, sustainable, good-quality, secure housing. Living in a cohousing co-operative requires actively participating in the running of the cooperative as a whole, and reaching and respecting collective decisions relating to issues of management and operation.
TVCC is not a government or charitable social housing provider, nor a speculative for-profit property development.
TVCC is working towards registration under the Australian Cooperatives National Law.
TVCC is not a government or charitable social housing provider, nor a speculative for-profit property development.
TVCC is working towards registration under the Australian Cooperatives National Law.
is it a commune?
No. TVCC is not an income sharing community; TVCC member households retain their respective financial autonomy. TVCC does not have any religious or political affiliations. We welcome those with a variety of beliefs and cultural origins who share our core values.
Why did TVCC choose to become a housing cooperative?
The simple answer is that we really like collaborating and sharing together, and becoming a cooperative was the logical extension of our Core Values and our Vision.
More specifically, we want to:
More specifically, we want to:
- avoid the use of community homes for speculative investment
- ensure long term affordability for a range of socioeconomic background including young families with children, single parents and seniors
- have community control over residency, community life, environmental sustainability and management of the building(s).
Is it a rental housing cooperative?
No. The TVCC legal entity will be a non-distributing, not-for-profit shareholder owner occupier housing cooperative. This means that each resident member owns shares in the cooperative.
Can I rent out my home?
TVCC has guidelines that allow for residents to rent out their home to approved renters for periods of time, e.g. while overseas or interstate.
How will TVCC promote a safe environment for children and vulnerable people within the community?
Prospective residents are required to hold a current Department of Communities & Social Inclusion clearance. TVCC decision-making processes value every voice and deeply engage all community members to identify and manage risk
Is it quicker than conventional property development?
No
Why does it take a long time to establish a cohousing community
There are many decisions to be made by the group, and TVCC take a multi-stakeholder 'seven generations thinking' approach to all decisions.
What are the financial costs?
TVCC members purchase shares in the cooperative, relative to the size of the dwelling they will occupy. There is a modest annual membership fee to cover admin and maintenance.
Will it be cheaper?
No, and Yes. The overall buy-in price will be about the same as an ordinary apartment. The Common House will be quite substantial and will add to the upfront build costs. On the other hand, we expect to make savings through prefabrication construction methods and compact design of dwellings.
Over the long term significant living cost savings will be achieved through:
Over the long term significant living cost savings will be achieved through:
- Reduced utility bills via:
- Self-sufficient microgrid
- Passive solar orientation
- Sensitive selection of building material
- Self-sufficient water capture and onsite recycling
- Circular economy treatment of waste
- Low maintenance costs through careful selection of materials and sharing of maintenance duties
- Proximity to local amenities and public transport
- Walking and cycling
- Car share owned and managed by the coop
- Bulk purchasing of food for community meals
Are there any examples of cohousing that I can visit?
There are very few cohousing examples in Australia. The closest approximation in South Australia is Christie Walk at 101 Sturt Street Adelaide. There are more than 200 cohousing communities in the USA, Canada and the UK, and many more in formation.
What level of participation is required?
Every adult member of a housing cooperative is required to actively participate in its overall management and operation. This involves a commitment of time and energy, including:
- attending regular decision-making meetings and working bees
- taking on an official role such as chairperson, secretary, treasurer or maintenance officer, for a particular period of time, and training in and carrying out the duties that the role requires
how does the community make decisions?
TVCC uses sociocracy (pronounced soci-ocracy) as our governance and decision making model at our monthly business and self-governance meetings. Intrinsic to sociocracy is the deep listening approach of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) which we use to understand each other better and to work through challenges that arise.
How does the community manage conflict?
Cohousing is focused on community and neighbourliness, building long term relationships and supporting each other on life's journey. It's not utopia, and we acknowledge that community life and accommodating diversity can sometimes feel challenging; occasional disagreements will occur. Cohousing requires an ability and willingness to truly listen to and respect the opinions, needs and wishes of all members. For this reason, all adults within member households undertake sociocracy and non-violent communication training. This can make conflicts far easier to manage than in regular strata situations.
To what extent are residents expected to participate in the community?
All adult community members are expected to contribute 6 hours per month towards the governance and maintenance of the housing cooperative.
Residents live independently in their own homes. The community respects each person's right to choose for themselves their participation in social life, and the balance between privacy and community that best suits them. TVCC plans to have optional shared meals in the Common House 3-4 times per week to promote a vibrant and rich community life. We already hold regular social events, including an annual Retreat.
Residents live independently in their own homes. The community respects each person's right to choose for themselves their participation in social life, and the balance between privacy and community that best suits them. TVCC plans to have optional shared meals in the Common House 3-4 times per week to promote a vibrant and rich community life. We already hold regular social events, including an annual Retreat.
how much personal space will I have?
Living in cohousing can actually offer more opportunities for personal space than a conventional suburban home because all members of each household have access to additional spaces including meeting places, play areas, guest rooms, work spaces, gardens, as well as the sanctuary of their private dwelling.
are the gardens shared or private?
Each dwelling will have a generous balcony or courtyard. There will be extensive shared gardens, kitchen garden, and children's play spaces.
can I renovate the dwelling?
Yes. Residents are free to decorate their home in ways that express their sense of self. Because the asset is owned by TVCC cooperative there are guidelines about renovations and structural changes, for example materials selection.
will the buildings be accessible to people with a disability?
Yes. Universal Design (disability access) is central within our architectural brief.
What will the dwellings be like?
Each home will be self-contained with a kitchen, lounge, dining, bathroom and bedrooms.
what will the shared facilities be like?
The Common House will have a commercial grade kitchen, large community dining room, lounge area, kids play space, communal laundry, guest room(s), 'library of things', workshop and central post boxes. Carparking and bicycle garage facilities are shared.
will there be coworking spaces?
We hope to incorporate some tenantable commercial space including office space, meeting rooms, and perhaps a café or gym.
what happens if my life circumstances change and I need to upsize or downsize?
When a household needs to downsize to a smaller dwelling, e.g. from a 3 bedroom to a 2 bedroom, they will trade a portion of their shares with another household who needs to upsize to a larger dwelling. Their voting rights within the cooperative remain unchanged: each adult resident of the cooperative will have one vote regardless of the size of the dwelling they occupy, or the value of their financial shareholding.
what happens if I want to leave?
TVCC members will be able to exit the cooperative by selling their shares back to TVCC, who will on-sell the shares to an approved household on TVCC waiting list.
do I get free childcare or elder care if I get sick?
As with other friends and well known neighbours, people help each other in informal ways. Members provide friendship and support in times of need, but are not primary caregivers for others’ needs. Any particular, ongoing care for individuals would be arranged by private contract.
Still have questions? You can contact us to find out more at get involved, or read our latest news.