🏡 Co-operative Housing Tenure

Commons Chamber

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Andrew Pakes introduced a Bill to establish co-operative housing tenure, emphasizing the transformative power of co-operatives like Coin Street, which not only provide homes but also foster community development and resident empowerment. He highlighted the government’s new funding for community-led housing and stressed the need for legal recognition to support co-operative housing growth. Pakes drew comparisons with Sweden and Norway, where co-operative housing laws have been successful for decades. The Bill was unanimously supported and will be read a second time on June 13.

Summary

  • Introduction of the Bill: Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough, introduced a Bill to establish a new form of housing tenure specifically for co-operatives. The Bill aims to ensure that residents of co-operative housing are members of the co-operative rather than tenants, giving them more control over their living situation.

  • Personal Connection and Experience: Pakes shared his deep-rooted connection to co-operative values, mentioning his early life influenced by the Co-op and his six-year tenure as a director of the Co-operative Development Society, where he supported housing co-operatives.

  • Example of Successful Co-operative Housing: Pakes highlighted the success of Coin Street in Waterloo, London, where residents have managed their housing co-operatives for decades. This model not only provides homes but also fosters community development through education, training, and decision-making power.

  • Addressing Housing Issues: The Bill addresses the broader issue of a broken housing sector where many feel powerless. Co-operative housing offers an alternative by placing decision-making power directly in the hands of residents, potentially alleviating issues like high rents and mortgage costs.

  • Government Support and Funding: The Labour Government has announced a new funding package for community-led housing, including co-operatives, which is seen as a significant step towards empowering local communities in housing development.

  • Legal Foundation Needed: Pakes emphasized the need for a legal foundation for co-operative housing tenure to support residents and professionals like advisers and lawyers in navigating the co-operative housing model effectively.

  • International Context: The UK is behind countries like Sweden and Norway, which have had co-operative housing laws for many years, leading to more successful co-operative housing sectors in those countries.

  • Broader Community Impact: Co-operative housing projects contribute to wider community benefits, such as local energy projects, agriculture initiatives, and community spaces like pubs and leisure centres, as seen at Coin Street.

  • Next Steps for the Bill: The Bill was agreed upon and will be read for the second time on Friday 13 June. It is supported by several MPs who will present the Bill.

Divisiveness

The session shows very little disagreement among the members of parliament. The transcript indicates that Andrew Pakes introduced the motion for a Bill on cooperative housing tenure without any opposition or counterarguments from other MPs. The motion was put to a vote and ‘agreed to’ without any recorded dissenting voices or debate, suggesting a unanimous or near-unanimous support for the Bill. Examples of disagreement are absent from the transcript; instead, it is filled with supportive statements and acknowledgments of the positive impact of cooperative housing. The session concludes with the Bill being ordered to be presented and read the First time, further indicating a lack of contention. Therefore, based on the absence of any visible disagreement, the session receives a rating of 1 for disagreement.