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A comprehensive overview of cooperative housing models being developed across European cities, from community land trusts to housing cooperatives.
Across Europe, communities are rediscovering cooperative housing as a powerful tool for creating affordable, sustainable, and community-led living environments. From the well-established models in Vienna and Zurich to emerging initiatives in Barcelona and Amsterdam, cooperative housing is experiencing a renaissance.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the cooperative housing models currently being developed and scaled across European cities, examining what makes each approach unique and what lessons can be shared across borders.
Community Land Trusts (CLTs) separate land ownership from housing, keeping land in community hands in perpetuity. This model has gained significant traction in cities like Brussels and London, where rising land values have made traditional homeownership increasingly unattainable for many residents.
By removing land from the speculative market, CLTs ensure long-term affordability and give communities genuine control over their neighbourhoods. Several pilot projects across Europe are now demonstrating that this model can work at scale.
Traditional housing cooperatives remain the backbone of collaborative housing in many European countries. In Switzerland, cooperatives account for roughly 5% of the total housing stock, and in cities like Zurich, that figure rises to over 20%. These cooperatives operate on a cost-rent principle, where residents pay only what is needed to cover costs.
New-generation cooperatives are building on this tradition by incorporating ecological sustainability, shared spaces, and innovative governance structures that empower residents to shape their living environment collaboratively.