• Skip to main content

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

IMPACT

In the UK there are four student housing co-ops successfully providing homes to a total of nearly 130 students at affordable rent – it’s a model that really works!

Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative (ESHC)

Launched in 2014, Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative is the UK’s largest student housing co-op. It’s democratically managed by its members, who commit several hours a week to running and enriching the co-op with activities such as cooking, cleaning, maintenance, skills swaps and workshops. The property is owned by a housing association and leased to the co-op.

Martin’s co-op success story

While studying for his Sociology degree, Martin Bradbury felt anxious, depressed and isolated. “It was prevalent where I was living. But everyone was stuck in their own problems. We didn’t really notice that we were all feeling bad,” he recalls.

He’s now living in the Birmingham Student Housing Co‑operative and his mental health has vastly improved – because communication, support and shared responsibility are intrinsic to how the house operates.

“We have fortnightly house meetings where we talk about how we’re feeling – and we support each other,” he explains.

Read Martin’s full story here. And read success stories from his house mates Patrick Whelan and Fay Arnold.

Birmingham Student Housing Co-operative (BSHC)

The UK’s first operational housing co-op, BSHC was launched in June 2014. Its finances are managed collaboratively by all tenants. Profits have been re-invested to add two extra bedrooms, a greenhouse and gardening beds. The house is owned by The Phone Co-op, part of The Midcounties Co-operative, and leased to BSHC.


#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)