How Cooperative Housing Works in Denmark
Barbara and I first got interested in cooperative living when we learned what the Danes were doing.
The below text is copied from a 2012 post: How Cooperative Housing Works in Denmark
In Denmark there are a total of 540,000 co-operative social housing units.
Co-operative social housing organisations are established as separate self-governing associations, with a management council controlled entirely by residents through a policy of tenant democracy.
Tenant representatives decide and approve house rules and initiate common activities. They also have influence on the design and appearance of common areas, renovation or even the increase of the rent.
Co-operative social housing is all about democracy.
KAB is a Danish Co-operative Social Housing Association and a member of Kooperationen, the Cooperative Employers Organisation in Denmark.
KAB provides good and affordable homes and is committed to improve the living conditions of their residents. At the moment KAB manages more than 50.000 homes in the greater Copenhagen Area.
This is another (2014) post from a Danish site. housingd
ABF
ABF is the Danish Association of Private and Cooperative Housing and the body are not connected to the Danish government but are there to support the needs and services of those living in cooperative housing in Denmark.
National Association of Housing Cooperatives (USA)
NAHC represents housing cooperatives, mutual housing associations, other resident-owned or controlled housing as well as professionals, organizations and individuals who work with and advocate for housing cooperatives.
Incorporated in 1960 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, NAHC is the only national cooperative housing association in the U.S.
Housing Cooperatives: A Unique Type of Home Ownership - Investopedia
A co-op is a way to own a primary residence, but where homeowners don't own their units outright; instead, each resident is a shareholder in the co-op itself.
Some co-op owners are allowed to sell their co-op shares in the open market, depending on the market rate for co-ops in that location.
Co-ops can be less expensive than apartments since they operate on an at-cost basis, collecting money from residents to pay expenses.
However, before buying shares of a company, be sure to check out the company's financial situation and the fees involved.
Housing Cooperatives: A Unique Type of Home Ownership - Investopedia
Senior Cooperative Housing
In senior cooperative housing, active 55 and older residents own a share of the community with an equal voice in how it’s run. The tax benefits of home ownership are there but without the hassle of home upkeep. This makes an ideal transition from long-time home ownership to a more maintenance free life.
Senior cooperative housing has been a fixture in the Midwest for over 35 years and is gaining some traction in the South and West with communities in Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Washington. The majority of the 100 or so communities across 10 states sit in Minnesota.
Cohousing Co-operative
And for those who really want to get away from it all.
The Co-operative is a member-resident, tenant-managed housing co-operative, part of Tasmania's Social Housing.