Student co-operatives to take on landlords

Student co-operatives are a new initiative in student renting.

The idea follows schemes in California and Canada where student cooperatives, establish each student tenant as shareholder in the building. The co-operative then shares responsibility for maintaining the property as a communal space. Cooking is done communally. Essential maintenance duties are also performed by students. The result is rather like a student-run halls of residence.

A scheme in Edinburgh has secured funding to obtain a a 106-bed property. They are currently accepting applications from students wanting to live in one of the buildings 26 flats and is hoping to offer cut-price rooms to students from this September starting at rents of £260 a month.

Mike Shaw, from the project commented 

"It was an idea we had over a cup of tea a year ago. Basically, we want it to be a good community that people want to live in, the sort of place they can get excited about."

Other student co-ops have sprung up in Birmingham, Aberdeen and Sheffield, with a new organisation, Students for Cooperation helping to set up a nationwide network of cooperative projects.

This might become a growing trend in student housing.

It's your turn to do the washing up.