FAQ

You may well wonder why we have put this seemingly insignificant question so close to the top of our list. Frankly, because it is the single question most frequently asked of co-housing enthusiasts. 

Can you imagine 25 or more households trying to separately prepare 18 or 19 meals every week, in one kitchen? That would be impossible. So yes, each residence has a fully equipped, private kitchen. Really.

Every co-housing community has a common kitchen, but individuals typically only participate in common meals two or three times a week. Kitchen duties are rotated among members, based on the size of your community. Common meals can be as frequent or infrequent as you'd like. However, they only cost $2-3, so many choose to take advantage of the cost-efficiency and time to bond with neighbors.

For the most part, groups require attendance at an orientation, regular meetings and some involvement with a committee before a household can apply for membership. Some groups have associate memberships that require little in the way of a financial contribution, but do give potential full members the chance to participate fully in the planning process, and to get to know others in the group. A full membership usually requires an equity investment, part or all of which is eventually credited toward the final price of your house. This investment can range from a few thousand dollars up to 15% of the final cost of your home.

The disadvantage of joining a group early is that your co-home may take a long time, not to mention energy and money, to materialize. The advantages are that the earlier you come into the group, the more opportunity you have to be a part of the design and planning. Plus, you get an earlier place in the order of unit selection. Many groups also have a financial incentive for joining the group early, in the way of a discount for your final house price.

Although one or two co-housing communities in the U.S. are organized as limited equity cooperatives, most are structured as condominiums or planned unit developments. In what is called the “lot development model,” members jointly own the common property and facilities, and are the sole owners of the lot on which they build their own single family house. Sometimes they own just the land directly under their homes (the footprint), or that plus a small back or front “private” yard. In “retrofit” co-housing, existing buildings are used or renovated so that certain spaces can be used by the whole community for its common activities. The ownership structure varies considerably in retrofit co-housing.

Except in a cooperative, any household leaving the community can legally sell their property to anyone they choose, but some communities maintain a “right of first refusal” which means that the seller must offer his or her unit for purchase by the community or to an individual(s) within the community before putting it on the open market. In other communities, residents sign a voluntary agreement that they will not lease or sell their unit to a person or persons who do not wish to participate fully in the community.

Some communities maintain a waiting list of persons interested in being informed if a unit becomes available and it is to the benefit of the seller and to the rest of the community if everyone lends a hand in finding new owners. When it comes to resales, experience has shown that homes in co-housing have held their value or have appreciated faster than the market as a whole.

Co-housing homes typically cost more than other new condos or townhomes, for several reasons:

Co-housing neighborhoods offer generous common facilities that are unheard of in traditional attached housing developments.

Co-housing projects typically incorporate environmentally sustainable features that cost more in the short run, although they often pay off over time.

Co-housing neighborhoods are built on a smaller, more intimate scale than most new neighborhoods today.

In addition to energy savings that co-housers experience after moving in, co-housers often find that common meals and other shared costs help reduce their daily living expenses.

Co-housing communities tend to be safer than other neighborhood models. Many co-housers don't feel the need to lock their doors, though they always have the option. Everyone knows and cares about their neighbors. One might check in if they sensed something odd, creating a natural neighborhood watch system. If your child falls off a swing when he or she is out of your immediate sight line, another adult will surely pick him or her up.

Part of co-housing's appeal is forging a community that will look out for YOU. Violations of trust between co-housers would result in the loss of shared benefits, which no one wants to risk after building their homes and relationships.

In addition to sharing large common spaces, usually including a common house, co-housers adopt a culture of sharing. Some things we share by purchasing them as a community and making them available in shared spaces. Other things we own privately and offer for the use of others. We believe in sharing what we have and borrowing what we need. Whether it is a teaspoon of salt, a crochet hook, or a pickup truck, we’re generally happy for our neighbors to use what we own and often offer expertise to go with it.

We care for one another every day in small ways, and when health or life brings crisis, we join together to give whatever support is needed. We relish the joy of giving, and embrace the security of receiving from one another.

We believe that connection with others is a core need of humans. Our communities are designed so that we cross paths with each other often. We intentionally take the time to stop and chat when we can. We choose to eat together on a regular basis, work on community projects together and play together. In short, we make choices every day that support our relationships with our neighbors. We commit to share major assets; this requires give and take to manage collectively, bringing us closer together. We believe this makes us healthier, happier and more resilient.

Daily practices of composting and recycling combine with environmentally conscious building practices to reduce waste and energy use. Living close together makes it easy to collaborate on recycling items not picked up by city services, sharing rides, and rehoming things we no longer need. Additionally, with the combined resources of a community, its affordable to install solar panels, EV chargers, etc. (vs. if they owned a single-family home).

PARTICIPATORY PROCESS Future residents participate in the design and development of the community so that it meets their specific needs. Some co-housing communities are initiated or driven by a developer, which may make it easier for residents to participate. A well designed pedestrian-oriented community, without resident participation in the planning, may be “co-housing inspired,” but it is not a co-housing community.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN The physical layout and orientation of the buildings (site plan) encourages a sense of community. For example, the private residences are clustered on the site, leaving more shared open space. The dwellings typically face each other across a pedestrian street or courtyard, with cars are parked on the periphery. The common house is centrally located so that it's on your way home. More importantly, is the intention to create a strong sense of community with design as a facilitator.

COMMON FACILITIES Common facilities are designed for daily use. They are an integral part of the community, and are supplemental to the private residences. The common house typically includes a kitchen, large dining space, sitting area, children’s playroom and laundry. It may also have a workshop, library, exercise room, crafts room and/or one to two guest rooms. Except on very tight urban sites, co-housing communities often have playground equipment, lawns and gardens. Since the buildings are clustered, larger sites may retain several acres of undeveloped shared space.

RESIDENT MANAGEMENT Co-housing communities are managed by their residents. Residents do most of the work required to maintain the property; they participate in the preparation of common meals, and meet regularly to develop policies or problem-solve for the community.

NON-HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE AND DECISION-MAKING In co-housing communities there are leadership roles, but no one person or persons has authority over others. Most groups start with one or two “burning souls,” but as people join the group, everyone takes on at least one role consistent with their skills, abilities or interests. Most co-housing groups make decisions by consensus. Although groups typically have a voting policy if consensus cannot be reached, its use is rarely necessary.

NO SHARED COMMUNITY ECONOMY The community is not a source of income for its members. Occasionally, a co-housing community will pay one of its members to do a specific (usually time-limited) task, but more often the task will be considered that member’s contribution to the shared responsibilities.

While appearance varies widely based on region, urban or rural location, and the preferences of the founders, there are some basic ideas that define the architectural style that is co-housing. Homes are clustered together, leaving room for common courtyards in dense urban areas and gardens and playfields in less dense areas. Private homes are on the small side, leaving space and resources for a common house where people gather, share meals, do laundry and host guests.

Homes and common house are joined by pedestrian paths where residents pause to chat, gather to play and smile in passing. Cars are parked on the perimeter to keep interior paths safe for pedestrians. Energy efficiencies and sustainable features are designed into buildings from the start. Connected townhouses reduce winter heat loss while increasing interactions between neighbors.