Resource context
“Cooperative Housing Pioneers in Central and South-Eastern Europe: Mainstreaming Alternatives through Translocal Networks” is a research paper published by Critical Housing Analysis and authored by Corinna Hölzl (Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). It examines cooperative and community-led housing initiatives in Central and South-Eastern Europe (CSEE) and analyses how a translocal network—MOBA—seeks to expand non-speculative housing alternatives and create solidarity-based financing across borders.
Problem setting: financialised housing and “super-homeownership”
The paper argues that financing is the most significant constraint for grassroots cooperative housing in CSEE. The region’s post-1990s privatisation waves produced “super-homeownership,” with more than 70% of households owning their homes, while affordable rental and social housing remain scarce. Rental markets are described as shaped by informal agreements, weak tenant protections, and low renovation rates. In larger cities such as Prague, Budapest, and Zagreb, capital inflows and continued investment are linked to sharp rent increases over the past decade. National financial systems are often dominated by large foreign banks, and subsidised mortgage products mainly support individual ownership rather than long-term, low-interest lending for cooperative providers.
What MOBA is and how it operates transnationally
MOBA is presented as a solidarity-based transnational umbrella association of cooperative initiatives from five countries: Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia. Collaboration began in 2017 and, since 2020, MOBA has been legally constituted as a European Cooperative Society (SCE). The network aims to develop shared standards and strategies for independent, non-speculative housing models adapted to semi-peripheral contexts, and to build transnational financing instruments where domestic options are limited.
Pilot projects and cooperative models under development
The study highlights that MOBA members pursue limited-equity, use-based cooperative models intended to provide affordable housing for middle-class households without access to credit. Pilot projects vary, including smaller self-used or self-refurbished projects and larger collaborative housing developments. Examples include: a Križevci (Croatia) project of 36 apartments (reconstruction planned until 2027) with a financing mix including 15% resident equity via shares, 25% municipal and EU funding, and the remainder expected as a long-term loan (e.g., from an Austrian bank), with rents planned not to exceed 30% of member income; and Czech projects such as “První vlaštovka” (Prague, ~12 residents) supported by a €1 million credit from the German Umverteilen Foundation while awaiting a building permit.
Transnational financing instruments: MOBA-Accelerator and the European Ethical Bank
To address the gap in interim and long-term financing, the paper describes two key initiatives. First, the MOBA-Accelerator: a revolving fund under development intended to provide interim financing for projects through donations, member shares, and bonds until bank credit can be secured. The roadmap described progresses from a pilot phase targeting €1 million and a first pilot loan, to streamlining at up to €2.5 million, then expansion (up to €5 million, refinancing initial loans, and agreements with financial institutions), with a mature-stage ambition of €15+ million. Second, a European Ethical Bank (EEB) initiative led by the Croatian member ZEF, developed with European banks and fintech professionals (including references to Banca Etica and FEBEA). After a Croatian licensing attempt was rejected, the EEB is planned to be licensed in Lithuania to reduce costs and enable a more transparent process. It is described as aiming to provide ethical credit services to European SMEs through a transnational network of local mission-oriented partners such as MOBA, with loans largely channelled via multinational development banks.
Capacity building, advocacy, and limits identified
MOBA’s translocal strategy also includes knowledge exchange, mutual support, and Europe-wide advocacy to politicise financialised housing practices and attract larger funders. The research notes reliance on voluntary work, small donations and grants (often under €30,000), and occasional larger contributions (including a reported private donation of ~€200,000 by end of 2024). The paper concludes that while MOBA shows potential to build non-speculative alternatives through transnational solidarity, persistent barriers include uncertain engagement with local/state institutions, constrained funding, long time horizons for financial instruments, and the continued importance of national-level policy and institutional support for project implementation.