Collective Ownership is the public-facing name of The Collective Ownership Society Ltd, a not-for-profit housing co-operative based in London. Its stated purpose is to offer an alternative to private ownership and landlordism by taking homes out of the speculative market and placing them under permanent resident control.13
The Society operates as a “co-op of co-ops”: its member-tenants are housing co-operatives rather than individuals. The Society acquires and holds properties, while residents organise as member co-ops to manage their homes democratically. The Society describes its role as combining property acquisition and asset management with resident control of everyday housing life.2
The model aims to keep rents affordable and homes from being sold for private gain. Any surplus is reinvested to bring further homes into collective ownership; the organisation says it raises donations and ethical investment to fund its work.1 Its stated benefits for residents include more stable housing, democratic control, and the ability to make decisions about maintenance and sustainability improvements.1
The Society is governed by a board that includes housing professionals and representatives with experience in co-operative housing, governance, finance and community-led development. People named in the organisation’s materials include Madeline Martin, Freya Field-Donovan, Vivian Woodell, Gauthier Guerin and Levent Kerimol.3 Its activities centre on supporting resident groups and member co-ops, acquiring homes and building a model intended to make resident-controlled housing more widely available.1
The Society’s registered address is 82 Tanner Street, London. Its published materials describe member co-ops and housing groups in London, but do not establish a broader operating area.234