Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Common Costs,state requirements, voluntary contributions

[Rob Sandelin (Exchange) (Robsan]

If you are legally organized as a condominium, the states condominium
law will dertermine to some extent how you divide up costs.  Any legal
documents you draw up such as CC&R's, bylaws etc. will need to conform
to the state law.  Unofficially you can make whatever house rules you
want, as long as they are agreed to by the group and kept out of the
hands of unfriendlies.  However, if you make agreements which are
clearly in violation of your state codes, and do so knowingly and
delibrately, then a disgruntled owner can cause the group a lot of
unhappiness.  In my opinion, it may be better to handle differences in
money on a personal level rather than an organizational level.  Those
who have more can loan or give to those who have less.  This has worked
well at Sharingwood where several common elements have been purchased
for the group to use by a small number of people contributing. We just
ordered a large bicycle wheel cart this way and have bought a shredder,
chainsaw, lawnmower, pool, playground and basketball hoop using
voluntary donations.  We just ask who would like to chip in, they do,
and we buy it. No assessment needed, and those who are shorter on
capital (or not interested) have no requirements to contribute. Those
who do not contribute are as welcome to use the common element as those
who have and so it all works out fine. 

We have funded our commonhouse by loans from members in this same way. 
Those who had capital and wanted to invest it in Sharingwood did so. And
it all works out to everyones benefit. The investors get a good return
on their funds, the community gets our commonhouse done before the money
from Phase 2 is realized. Win, Win, Win.

Rob
Sharingwood