Cooperative housing/ownership

Clapham, D. (2012) Cooperative housing/ownership. In: International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home. Elsevier, pp. 243-247. ISBN 9780080471716 doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-047163-1.00487-2

Abstract/Summary

Cooperative housing is a long-established form of housing tenure found in many countries. This article will examine the different definitions and forms of cooperative housing and the different roles it has donned in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom and Sweden. The philosophy behind this form of housing will be described. The pragmatic reasons for its existence, such as the need for a collective form of tenure to deal with common repair problems, will also be discussed. The main areas of research on housing cooperatives will be described: (i) their efficiencies being compared with those of other tenure forms and (ii) identifying the factors that influence resident involvement.