Are the waiting lists long?How does the selection process work ?How are the groups administered? How many hours will I be expected to devote to the group?Is rent based on income?Am I eligible for a rent subsidy?Can I move from one group to another?Do apartments only become available at the end of a lease?How big are the apartments?How are the apartments heated?How do I apply?Can I send my application by e-mail?
In some cases yes, in others no. In general, you'll need to renew your application at the end of a year. The co-ops are not as inaccessible as one might think and similarly, the waiting lists are not as long as you might imagine.
There are two criteria identified in the Declaration of Co-ownership : admissible income and minimum occupancy level. This is detailed in Fact Sheet #6 (this PDF document requires Acrobat Reader). This means that we choose low to moderate income applicants and whose household corresponds to the size of the apartment we have available. For example, a one and a half would go to a single person..
But each co-op and OSBL in the community has their own set of procedures. Generally, the applicants who fulfil the criteria will be contacted for an interview with the selection committee. The committee reaches a decision and refers it to the general assembly for approval.
Once the candidate has been chosen and has joined the co-op, there is often a probation period of 3 months. During this time, the candidate will be granted the benefits of being a member of the co-op (such as subsidized rent) without actually being a full member, meaning without the right to vote or to sit on the Board of Directors. The probation period is also a time in which the candidate can show his/her capacity to participate actively in the group.
At the annual general assembly, the members of the co-ops and of some of the other non profit housing groups (sociétés or corporations d'habitation) elect a Board of Directors (c.a.). All members in good standing are eligible to take part. The Board of Directors is generally made up of a president, a treasurer, and a secretary. Some co-ops will also elect a vice-president and a co-ordinator of committees.
The Board of Directors administers the co-ops with prudence and diligence in the name of the general assembly. It oversees the legal responsibilities of the group as well as the day to day operation of the committees, such as: the finance committee, the maintenance committee, the selection committee, the external affairs committee and the secretarial. While most committees function similarly, differences in administration do occur. For example, some sociétés d'habitation are managed by an external Board of Directors while others include external as well as resident members.
That depends on the needs of the group, which can vary widely from one month to the next. Generally, groups ask that each member participate in at least one committee that meets regularly. Presence at the general assembly is mandatory and, according to the groups, happen anywhere from two or three to ten times a year.
Outside of the meetings, there are the individual and group tasks (i.e: the annual/bi-annual duty of cleaning and maintenance, collecting rents, bookkeeping, processing applications from potential candidates, organizing information sessions and social activities, gardening, inspecting apartments, maintenance, etc.)
In short, it would be false to assume that one's presence at all the meetings is sufficient to make you a good member. The main principle on which co-operative living is based depends on the active participation of each member. You should be aware that whatever it is that you leave undone, someone else will have to do. Therefore, you need to be willing to give generously of your time and to organize your personal life in such a way that will allow this.
Still, if we had to put a number to the amount of hours one should put into the co-op, (while allowing for differences between groups and individual availability) it would probably range from between four to fifteen hours a month.
In co-ops members benefit from a rent reduction, called member's rent, of the rental amount that appears on the lease. The lease rent is based on lower end of market rent in nearby equivalent housing while member's rent is based on the financial needs of the coop according to budget and usually divided among the dwellings on a per square foot basis. The rents are generally reasonable enough although some groups face pressure due to a lack of government funding.
Some groups can afford to reduce member's rent further by means of a special reserve while other groups do not have such reserves. Availability of such funding vary from group to group and are also tending, unfortunately, to disappear.
Yes you can, but the fact that you are a member of one group gives no priority in another.
No. Units can become available for many reasons, personal, professional, etc. Usually a group will require a minimum of 3 months' notice.
By law, a member who occupies co-op housing is considered a tenant and subject to the applicable articles of the Quebec Civil Code. (louage). The Rental Board publishes a mandatory lease agreement specific to housing co-ops. The other non profit housing groups must use the regular lease.
There are apartments of all sizes within the community. Rooming houses, single family housing (both large and small houses), two storey apartments, small, mid-size, and large apartments in duplexes, triplexes and apartment buildings. The clickable map of the six sections of CMP will lead you to the fact sheets for each of the groups.
Generally most units are heated electrically, which is not included in the rent. However, various buildings have central gas central heating systems that are paid for with the rent. The apartments have been carefully renovated and the units are well insulated. Again, consult the clickable map of the six sections of CMP, or the list of the groups, to find the fact sheets which indicate whether the units are heated by electricity or gas.
You can download the PDF file of our application form and the list of the selection criteria on (Fact Sheet 6). Read Fact Sheet 6 carefully, fill out the application, add a letter explaining why you would like to join our co-op or group and what you can bring to it, make a copy for yourself, and mail the package directly to the group(s) you are applying for.
No, it is absolutely necessary to send your applications to each of the groups by regular mail (snail mail).