The Value of Housing Co-Operatives in Australia

This report presents the findings of the ARC Linkage Project 'Articulating Value in Housing Co-operatives' undertaken in partnership with the Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance. It presents the first data set on affordable rental housing co-operatives across New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. Building on and amending previous cost-consequences frameworks, it demonstrates the extent of work that tenant-members contribute to their co-operatives, the benefits experienced by tenant-members, and connections between these. It highlights the role of co-operativism and participation in driving beneficial housing outcomes and the value of a diverse housing co-operative sector. The report builds on its findings to make recommendations for thriving co-operatives, identify limitations to its study, and suggest opportunities for future research.