A:  There are many benefits to being a part of a co-operative community, but it's not for everyone.  A co-op might not be the best fit for you if you don't have the time to contribute to your community or you are a very private person.  Co-ops rely on their members to govern, and (to varying degrees) maintain the property, so they require your time, even if it's just for a few hours per month.  And although most co-op members value the security afforded to them through their close community, one of the trade-offs can be your privacy - you will know your neighbours and they will know you! 

Be sure to read our What is Co-op Housing page for more information on what to expect at a housing co-op.

A:  Co-ops generally charge less than market rental rates because they are non-profit, this certainly makes them more affordable than the average rental options.

There is no set minimum income for most co-op housing units, but your income will be considered.  To afford to pay market rate for the unit available, co-ops will want to ensure your housing charges will not cost more than 30% of your gross income.  If housing charges will cost you more than 30% of your gross income, you may qualify for assistance through BC Housing or other similar subsidy programs.

Click here for information on BC Housing's affordable housing options. 

A:  Check out our Find a Housing Co-op page for a listing of all housing co-ops on Vancouver Island.  This page will be updated with as much information as we can gather on how to apply to each co-op.  Take a drive around town to check out the different co-ops and narrow down your list of where you want to apply.

A:  Many co-ops now have their applications available from their websites, but not all.  We will be posting instructions for all co-ops on our Find a Housing Co-op page.

A:  Your application will be reviewed by volunteer members living at the co-op where you are applying - they're not just looking for a new tenant, they're looking for a new neighbour.  Your application will ask for the basics, but you'll want to include a cover letter as well with more details on your family and how you intend on contributing to your new co-operative community.

It is generally not required for you to send in any of your financial information until after you have been short-listed.

A:  Each co-op has its own policies when it comes to pets - most do allow pets, but will have restrictions with regards to the number and/or size of pets.  If you have a pet or pets, be sure to include details in your application.

A:  Most housing co-ops use the National Occupancy Standard (NOS) as a guideline for unit suitability.  Generally speaking, this means one bedroom per person or paired couple - so if you are a single parent or couple with 1 child, you would qualify for a 2-bedroom unit and if you have 2 kids, that would be a 3-bedroom unit; if you're a single or couple without kids, you'd qualify for a 1-bedroom unit.  There are other nuances to the guidelines that allow for young children to share a bedroom, but most co-ops will try to avoid this to prevent the family from being under-housed in the future.

Beyond the suitability of the unit to the family size, co-ops also take into consideration future affordability for the family - most housing charge assistance programs in place at housing co-ops (such as FCHI-2) do not allow under or over-housed families to apply for assistance.

A:  Again, each co-op is different in this regard - some allow for applications to be emailed, some require them to be mailed or dropped off.  Specific information may be found on the co-op's website or our Find a Housing Co-op page. 

A:  Most co-ops will keep your application on file for 6 months, then shred, so you should be sending in a NEW application every 6 months.

Co-ops do not generally have "wait lists" - this would tend to indicate your priority on a first-come, first served basis - instead, when a vacancy comes available (and this does not happen often), all applications from the past 6 months are reviewed.  The co-op's membership committee may start with 20 applications, but only 5 may be suitable for the available unit based on family size, composition and finances.  Those 5 will be asked to visit the co-op for an in-person interview... or some committees will even ask to visit you in your home.

Please keep in mind that your application is being reviewed by community volunteers - do not knock on doors or harass them by email or phone.

If you've been applying for a long time with no results, you may want to confirm your eligibility for the unit you're apply to and adjust your application accordingly.

A:  Co-ops rarely publish their vacancies because they usually already have enough applications on hand to fill any openings that come up.  Your best bet is to apply to the co-op you're interested in every 6 months (see above) and if a vacancy comes up that you are suited to, you'll receive a call.

If Cascadia learns of any co-op vacancies on the Island, we will post them on our Facebook page at facebook.com/cascadiasolutions.