Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: renters fee?

[Kay Wilson Fisk (kwwilson]

Hi Craig,

Can you explain the reasoning behind the renter's fee? 

The reason I ask is that we have six rental units and one remaining unit for
sale that is rented under a lease with option to buy. Of these, the vast
majority of our renters do not choose to participate in most community
meetings or work parties, and this is something we are struggling with. So I
am wondering if the renter's fee is based on an assumption that renters,
having no vested interest in the community, are not expected to contribute
as much? A sort of surcharge?

And if so, are they able to work it off for a refund?

Kay


-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Ragland [mailto:craigragland [at] gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 3:02 PM
To: Cohousing-L
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ renters fee?


Hi Kay,

The "renter's fee" is required by Songaia. For a variety of reasons, it is a
direct relationship between the renter and the Songaia community. It is a
contribution toward our operating costs.

Songaia only has two rental homes (studios within two member's larger homes)
- there are a total of 15 homes (with 13 owners). Both of our rental studios
are the same size, so questions about rents for different-sized units has
not come up or been considered. All of the larger homes, of varied sizes are
owner-occupied and always have been.

This fee is not earmarked in the general sense of going into a specific fund
that can only be used for a specific purpose... I believe that our reserves
are the only portion of our assessments that can be thought of as being
earmarked. The $25 cost was tuned by our bookkeepers using the same
rationale which was used when determining portions of our monthly member
assessments.

Craig

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 11:34 AM, Kay Wilson Fisk <
kwwilson [at] bartcommunity.org> wrote:

>
> >> Renter also pays a $25/month community renters fee, payable to
> association.
>
> My ears perked up when I spotted this in the 9/13 Studio Apt Rental
> available at Songaia Cohousing message.
>
> -- What is a renters fee?
>
> -- Is it the landlord's requirement or a Songaia requirement?
>
> If the latter:
>
> -- Is it the same for different size units?
>
> --Is the money earmarked for a certain purpose?
>
> Kay Wilson
> A landlord at Bartimaeus Cohousing
>  <http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/>
>

-- 
Craig Ragland

Coho/US executive director
http://www.cohousing.org
craig [at] cohousing.org

Please try email first, include your phone number (w/time zone) - or give me
a call: 425-487-3550 (Pacific)... communicate!
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