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Student Co-op Homes

A groundbreaking new force in student housing

  • ABOUT
    • OUR CO-OP MEMBERS
    • OUR BOARD DIRECTORS
    • Strategy summary, 2022 – 2025
    • Our partners
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Apply to join SCH as a user member* (*student housing co-op)
    • Volunteering
    • CO-OPTED DIRECTOR VACANCIES
  • INVEST
  • IMPACT
    • Success stories: Fay Arnold
    • Success stories: Martin Bradbury
    • Success stories: Patrick Whelan
  • RESOURCES
    • Funding for your co-op
    • USEFUL LINKS
    • RESEARCH
    • FAQ’s
  • CONTACT
  • NEWS
    • Confederation of Co-operative Housing Awards (CCH)
    • European Student Housing Co-op gathering
    • April 2022
    • March 2022

FAQ’s

How do student housing co-operatives operate within such a transient community?

Student Co-op Homes (SCH) understands that it is challenging for individual student housing co-operatives with no financial track record and a continual turnover of student members to secure properties. However, by offering ongoing support and technical expertise to student groups, we can bridge that gap. We know this model works. In North America, students have been living successfully in student housing co-operatives since the 1930s. Although, the UK sector is much newer, with the first one set up in 2014. There are now five student housing co-operatives in the UK with properties that house over 130 student members.


Once a property is secured, students can live in the housing co-operative for the duration of their studies, plus a year after graduation. By offering long-term tenancies minimizes the usual transitory nature of the student community. It also enables mixed year groups to live together, learn and share skills. Studies have shown that increasing numbers of students want to invest in a sustainable and more equitable future. While founding members are likely to have graduated by the time a property is secured, we know from experience that the motivation for students to get involved is about more than just solving immediate housing needs. A housing co-operative is about creating a legacy for future generations and empowering students to devise solutions.

What lessons have been learnt from NASCO? (North American Student Co-operatives)

Check out SEASALT Housing Co-operative’s blog below:

UC BERKELEY STUDENT HOUSING CO-OP – A TOUR

Who are the owners? 

Through direct ownership or third-party leases, Student Co-op Homes plan to expand its property portfolio. By creating more student housing co-operatives, we aim to strengthen and grow the movement.

On a practical level, students in a housing co-operative manage the day to day running of the property. With a maintenance budget, and training they can choose to learn skills as needed or call tradespeople directly. An ownership model that is proven to deliver. Housing co-operatives enable a group of students to come together to manage their own housing. This enables the students living in them to pool their resources to create homes where everyone collaborates for mutual benefit.

Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative –  members transformed the basement carport into a community event and training space

SEASALT, Brighton


#NoMoreLandlords

© Student Co-op Homes

  • ABOUT
    • Sample Page
    • Back
  • OUR BOARD DIRECTORS
  • GET INVOLVED
  • CO-OPTED DIRECTOR VACANCIES
  • RESOURCES
  • Funding for your co-op
  • RESEARCH
  • OUR CO-OP MEMBERS
  • USEFUL LINKS
  • FAQ’s
  • Strategy summary, 2022 – 2025
  • Apply to join SCH as a user member* (*student housing co-op)
  • MEMBERSHIP NEWS
  • STUDENT CO-OP HOMES NEWS
  • STUDENT CO-OP HOMES NEWS
  • March 2022
  • April 2022
  • Volunteering
  • Our partners
  • HOME2
  • European Student Housing Co-op gathering
  • Governance
  • Confederation of Co-operative Housing Awards (CCH)