COO.SOL is a non-profit cooperative society (SCIC) established in 2021 to expand homeownership access for modest-income households across the Bordeaux metropolitan area.1 The organization emerged from a collaborative process involving four major social housing actors and Bordeaux Metropole local government, receiving official accreditation as a Solidary Land Organization (Organisme de Foncier Solidaire) on November 26, 2020.1
The organization's core mission centers on enabling lower-income households to achieve property ownership through an innovative mechanism called the Solidary Real Estate Lease (Bail Réel Solidaire, or BRS).1 This approach allows residents to purchase properties—whether new or existing—while separating land ownership from building ownership, thereby reducing acquisition costs and making homeownership more accessible.1
COO.SOL operates as a multi-stakeholder cooperative, bringing together Bordeaux Metropole (local authority), Aquitanis (public housing office), Axanis (cooperative housing society), Mésolia (social housing enterprise), and Le Toit Girondin (cooperative housing society).1 The organization is led by Brigitte Terraza, Vice-President of Bordeaux Metropole and Mayor of Bruges, serving as President.1
The organization addresses a critical housing challenge in the region by providing an alternative pathway to property ownership that maintains affordability over time. By decoupling land and building ownership through the BRS model, COO.SOL reduces financial barriers while promoting sustainable, community-oriented housing solutions aligned with broader European objectives for affordable and inclusive housing.