Guide to Co-operative Housing

      Forming and Running a Housing Co-Op

Understanding the Key Elements

A co-op is a corporation that is governed by the co-op act of the province or territory where the co-op is located. Most housing co-ops in Canada are not-for-profit corporations. As such members are not entitled to distribute dividends or share in the profits of the co-op.

As a corporation, housing co-ops must:

file an annual return to their Province/Territory;

have meetings; and

elect a board of directors.

In a co-op, decisions are made democratically by the members. A majority of the members must support a decision for it to be approved. Therefore:

when we speak of co-op obligations to its members we are speaking of the collective membership of the co-op; and

when we speak of member obligations to the co-op we are speaking of the obligations of an individual member to his or her co-op. As member-run organizations there are several ways that the members become involved with the co-op. This section provides an overview of their main responsibilities as a group.

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