Cohousing-L Mailing List: Rental Policy?

[Judy Baxter (BAXTER]

Hi Cohousers-
(I'm back after a month away).
I'm wondering what policies, if any, other communities have in relation to 
long term rentals, especially to non-cohousers.  We have no formal
work/participation requirements, just expectations.

We have 1 townhouse that was for sale for nearly 2 years.  Meanwhile, it was
rented, generally on a short term basis (so that it could be sold, as I
understand), to non-cohousers who did not participate at all inthe community. 
(proof, by the way, to my mind, that architecture does not the community make,
as Rob often says).  We made overtures to various renters.  It was interesting
to learn how they interpreted being part of the community  ( one turned out to
mean saying good morning).

Anyhow, it has not sold, was taken off the market for a while.  Two households
are very interested, one has not even been able to see it.  And now one
interested household was told the price is going up about 25%, and the seller
appears to us to be more interested in renting  (rents in the Twin Cities have
gone sky-high.  )  So obviously, this is a possible rental unit for cohousers.  
That's an obvious avenue to explore. 

Or it may continue to be rented to non- cohousers, the current ones, or others. 

We are a small community, and many of us would prefer participating households.

Any relevant information, or policies  (the townhomes are a condo, legally)
would be appreciated.

Judy
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Judy Baxter, Monterey Cohousing Community,(MoCoCo) Twin Cities Area, Mpls.,MN
-- e-mail:      baxter [at] epi.umn.edu
15 homes - 7 new townhomes plus 
        8 coop apartments       in the Mansion (a rehab Georgian building)
(built as a retirement home in 1924 -) which also serves as our Common House
coops moved in 1993, townhomes in 1996
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a studio size home no may be for sale no sooner than spring, 
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 Voice Mail for Monterey Cohousing - 952-930-7554
 web page: http://www.jimn.org/mococo/