Cohousing-L Mailing List: Voting Status of Renters [was rental models of co housing?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Apr 1, 2019, at 10:45 AM, Philip Dowds via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] 
> cohousing.org> wrote:
> 
> But … Do these tenants have standing in plenary?  Are they empowered to help 
> decide our annual budget, or our pets policy?  Can they make proposals, or 
> object to them?  Or, are they always some sort of second-tier community 
> member?  

We have an associate member status for people who are living here but are not 
owners. This could be an au pair or a home health aid as well as an actual 
renter. A significant other. The requirement is that they participate as a 
member in work and social life. The more they participate the more they are 
thought of as members. It’s hard sometimes to remember that their stay is 
limited for whatever reason.

They can participate in governance just as everyone else does except on some 
issues related to finances. Since they don’t have the same liability, they 
can’t commit those who do to debts or whatever.

My personal feelings are the status of renters as temporary. I find it hard to 
get involved with someone who will be leaving. My concept of cohousing is that 
people move there to stay. But then that gets boring. New tussles are important 
— they add zest.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org