Co-op members are not landlords or tenants. As co-operative owners, members work together to govern their association and manage their homes to foster strong communities.

Members elect a Board of Directors, from amongst themselves, to govern the co-op’s operations. Most co-ops also contract with managers to handle the daily operations and maintenance of their homes.

The Board is elected by and accountable to the co-op’s members. Directors are volunteers who have a legal obligation to act honestly, in good faith, and in the best interests of the co-op.

No. Non-profit housing co-ops are mixed income communities with homes for people with a range of income levels. Generally, co-ops house people of moderate and low incomes.

At Bakerview Housing Cooperative, housing charges must not exceed 30% of a Member’s monthly income. The current minimum income qualification for our smallest unit is $33,175/yr.

Co-ops offer their members many advantages that are often unavailable in other forms of housing.

As a co-op member, you have security of tenure. That means you can live in your home for as long as you wish if you follow the rules of the co-op and pay your housing charges on time.

As a co-op member, you have a say in decisions that affect your home. You and your neighbours own shares in your co-op, which means you have a say in how your co-op is managed. Co-op housing is not public housing. Co-ops are self-governed, mixed-income communities, home to people of all ages and backgrounds. This diversity is one of the co-op movement’s greatest strengths.

Co-ops are communities in the truest sense of the word. While it’s common to hear people in other forms of housing say they don’t know or never speak to their neighbours, co-op members live and work together to create homes in active communities.

To become a member of a co-op, you must purchase a share. Shares also stand as the co-op's working capital.

Each share gives a member a vote in general meetings. The cost of shares at Bakerview Housing Cooperative are dependent on which size unit the member is occupying. They range from $1500-$1800.

A share is a little bit like a damage deposit in that you get the money back when you leave the co-op, unless the unit has been damaged, or you owe money to the co-op, in which case the share is used to cover repair costs or settle the debt. Non-profit housing co-ops do not return share purchases with interest.

A monthly housing charge is like rent. It’s what the members pay each month to live in the co-op. Housing charges are usually set to the amount the co-op needs to break even, after paying all its operating expenses and setting money aside for long-term capital repairs.

In most co-ops members approve changes to the housing charges by passing an ordinary resolution at a general meeting.

It includes access to amenity space, as well as professional management and building maintenance such as plumbing and electrical repairs, and long-term asset management. Things like replacing lightbulbs or keeping the unit clean is the responsibility of the member. The member is also responsible for paying their own utilities.

Household size must correspond with the size of the unit (at least one and no more than two persons per bedroom.)

No.

Yes! Bakerview Co-op allows Members to have up to two pets in their unit. Pets must be listed in your application and proof of neuter/spay must be provided.

Bakerview Housing Cooperative’s participation policy requires a Member from each unit to join a committee and volunteer 4 hours/month to serving the co-op. This provides members with the opportunity to get to know their neighbours and work towards the care and keeping of the co-op.

Members are also required to attend the Annual General Meeting where they will review and vote on the budget, participate in new business, and elect the Board of Directors, from amongst themselves.

Non-profit housing co-ops that still receive support from the government (federal or provincial) to help house some lower-income members sometimes call that support a subsidy or rent supplement. Housing charges for subsidized units are adjusted to fit with household income ("rent-geared-to-income" or "RGI") usually based on calculating with the formula that 30% (or a another percentage) of the member's income on rent (or housing charges) is the most someone should have to pay. Subsidy (or a rent supplement) makes up the difference between what the member pays and the co-op’s normal ("full" or break-even) housing charge. However, the amount of subsidy is limited and just because someone is eligible does not mean the co-op will have the subsidy to help.

The best way to learn about the Bakerview Housing Cooperative waitlist is to attend our “Future Members Orientation Night”. This is the first step in our application process.

Generally speaking, there will be a wait involved with getting into any Co-op. It may range from 3 months to 3 years. Primary factors that impact wait times include the size of waitlist and the rate of turnover for the unit you are applying for.

Those hoping to pay less than full housing charges (and qualify for a subsidy) will usually have a longer wait than those able to pay the full charges.

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their application is kept up to date and renewed annually with the Office Coordinator.

https://www.chf.bc.ca/

https://chfcanada.coop/about-co-op-housing/

Sign up for our next “Future Member Orientation Night”.