What is a housing co-op?
A housing co-op has no landlord. It is owned and managed collectively by the people who live there. The monthly charge covers the mortgage, maintenance, and operating costs, not profit.
Your questions, answered
Here is what future members ask us most. A few precise answers are confirmed by the co-op; we say so clearly.
Becoming a member
How is a co-op different from renting?
In a co-op you are a member, not a tenant. Participation in community life is expected, and the model aims for long-term affordability rather than a landlord's profit.
How does the waiting list work?
Units are assigned from a waiting list, refreshed each year from January 1 to March 31. Signing up does not guarantee that you will be offered a unit.
What are the selection criteria?
The Selection Committee looks at your participation in co-op life, your time on the list (seniority), and your household's need.
How long does the process take?
It depends on which units are available and your place on the list. Exact timelines are to be confirmed with the co-op.
How much is the member share (parts sociales)?
Becoming a member requires buying ten (10) shares at $10 each, for a total of $100. This amount is refundable when you leave, under the terms set out in the internal by-laws (2017).
What does a new member sign?
Upon arrival, new members sign a member agreement together with their lease. The agreement spells out their rights and obligations toward the co-op: participation in committees and work days, attendance at meetings, continuous occupation of the unit, and compliance with the rules.
Is there a probation or integration period?
Yes. Every new member goes through a three (3) month probation period. During this time they do not have voting rights and cannot run for the board of directors.
Living at the co-op
What participation is expected?
Each household serves on a committee (building committee or standing committee) and takes part in the spring and fall work days (corvées). No member may serve on more than two standing committees at once. Attendance at general meetings (annual and extraordinary) is also expected.
Are pets allowed?
Since May 2015, one (1) pet per unit is allowed. Members who already had pets at that time kept grandfathered rights for those animals, but those rights are not renewed after the pet dies. The owner must prevent the pet from soiling the grounds or damaging co-op property. City by-laws apply at all times.
Is there parking or storage?
Parking spaces are reserved for members designated by the board on the recommendation of the parking committee. Visitor access to the parking area is not permitted at any time. The cost is set by the board and subject to approval by the general meeting. As for storage, the details are to be confirmed with the co-op.
Can I sublet or be away for an extended period?
Subletting is allowed only for a temporary professional relocation and for a maximum of one year. The member agreement stays in force. Lease assignment is not permitted because the co-op must select its own members.
What happens if I leave?
A member may resign by giving thirty (30) days' written notice to the board. The member shares are refundable under the terms provided. Upon leaving, the member agreement ends, and anyone who stays in the unit as a tenant then pays the full rent.
How is the monthly charge set?
The monthly charge is set by the budget adopted at the annual general meeting. It covers the mortgage, maintenance, and operating costs, with no profit, since the co-op has no private landlord.
Are there rent-geared-to-income units?
Yes. Through CMHC subsidies, about twenty households (seniors and people living with disabilities) pay rent geared to their income.
Governance
How are decisions made?
Important decisions are made at the general meeting, where each member has one vote. Notice is sent at least ten (10) days in advance, and a 55% quorum of members is required. Board elections are announced twenty (20) days before the annual general meeting.
What committees exist?
The co-op is run through committees (building committees and standing committees). The full list of standing committees and their mandates is on the Governance page.
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