Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Rental Policy?

[Mike Rohrbach (rohrmike]

We at Sonora Cohousing in Tucson have a rental policy which is based on the 
tenants becoming an integral part of the community, including work 
requirements etc. We ask the prospective renters to come to a couple of 
meeting to insure all of us that they feel they can become part of the 
community.

As for comparable rental prices, we feel that since we are providing a home 
that includes many added bonuses and common facilities that we should get 
better than market price for comparable space. . Short term rentals are a 
management nightmare, do not enhance the community and are a great deal of 
wear and tear to the property. But wee also included in our regulations 
that property management must be done from within the community [as opposed 
to an outside real estate agent ].

Hope this gives you a start.

Mike
==========

At 17:05 2/7/01, Judy Baxter wrote:
>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
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>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
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>a studio size home no may be for sale no sooner than spring,
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Voice Mail for Monterey Cohousing - 952-930-7554
>  web page: http://www.jimn.org/mococo/


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  Michael  W.  Rohrbach - Chair
Cochise County Learning Advisory Council
FAX:  520-432-2002         P.O. Drawer  104     Phone: 520-432-3595
                 Bisbee,   Arizona   85603                       EMail: 
rohrmike [at] thriver.com
Opening Minds .... Opening Doors