Housing Co-operative 2.0: how could a co-operative housing model work in the modern Irish housing

The document titled "Housing Co-operative 2.0: how could a co-operative housing model work in the modern Irish housing landscape?" is authored by Haley Curran and published by The Housing Agency. It was awarded the Housing Agency Essay Prize for 2024, aimed at promoting original student essays as part of the Institute of Public Administration's Professional Diploma in Housing Studies. The essay explores the potential of a co-operative housing model as a sustainable solution to the current housing crisis in Ireland, emphasizing the importance of community-led initiatives.

Co-operatives have a long-standing history in Ireland, dating back to 1831. Initial movements included Ralahine in County Clare, and later, Public Utility Societies which operated until the 1970s. By the 1970s, co-operatives were recognized as a "Third Arm" in the Irish housing sector, alongside local authorities and private developers, providing about 5% of social housing at the time. The co-operative housing movement was heavily subsidized by the state until the late 1980s, but policy shifts and rising construction costs led to a decline in co-operative housing initiatives. By the 2000s, the focus shifted predominantly towards private and social housing, marginalizing co-operative models.

A housing co-operative is an autonomous association that meets the common economic, social, and cultural needs of its members through joint ownership and democratic control. Various models exist, including home-ownership co-operatives that help members build or buy homes, and mixed tenure co-operatives that allow for a combination of rental and ownership types.

Community Land Trusts are closely related to housing co-operatives. They are non-profit, community-led organizations that manage affordable housing and assets, ensuring they remain accessible to lower- and median-income households. Under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, both housing co-operatives and CLTs are recognized as potential solutions for addressing affordable housing shortages in Ireland.

The essay compares the co-operative housing models in Ireland with successful implementations in countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. For instance, Switzerland has about 5% of its housing stock in co-operatives, supported by legislation mandating a percentage of non-profit housing. Austria's co-operative model is noted for its effectiveness, with 9% of its housing stock being co-operative, backed by state funding and regulatory frameworks.

Despite the recognition of co-operatives in legislation, significant barriers remain. High land costs, limited political support, and a lack of financing mechanisms hinder the establishment and growth of co-operative housing in Ireland. The current systems tend to favor private sector solutions, leaving co-operatives at a disadvantage.

The essay outlines several proposals for enhancing co-operative housing in Ireland, including revisiting the Affordable Housing Act to better operationalize support for co-operatives, developing favorable funding mechanisms, and fostering political and societal support for these initiatives.

The co-operative housing model, while not a panacea for Ireland's housing crisis, offers a viable and sustainable alternative that promotes community cohesion, affordability, and diverse living environments. With the right legislative and financial frameworks in place, co-operatives could become a significant contributor to Ireland's future housing landscape.