Those we have worked with include:
- housing co-operatives
- tenant management organisations
- cohousing schemes
- mutual home ownership societies
- secondary housing co-operatives and other service providers
- housing associations
- local authorities
- and national governments
Key reasons why we are successful at providing advice and support in relation to co-operative and community led housing include:
We believe in it – it’s what we are here for. Our reasons for providing support are because we want quality support to be available to existing and developing co-operative and community led housing organisations and others who work with them.
Our knowledge and experience – we have three decades of hands on experience and we are acknowledged as the leading experts in co-operative housing. We produce a Code of Governance for housing co-operatives that meet the requirements of regulators, and various guidance documents to support our sector.
Our empathy and understanding – we are not just experts. Our team have lived and worked in housing co-operatives and we have lived and breathed it for many years. This means we know the day-to-day challenges that you face by personal experience. We adapt our approach to meet the needs of those we work with, and we explore with them how best to bring out their skills.
Our access to other services – we have knowledge in most areas relating to co-operative and community led housing but we are not qualified to work in all areas, such as providing legal services. However, our partner legal, insurance and human resources organisations are, and your membership gives you access to them as required.
Our relationships – we have long term relationships with many organisations who recognise us as the apex body for co-operative housing with expertise in all aspects of community led housing. We have had a positive and constructive relationship with the UK Government and the Regulator of Social Housing, and the Housing Ombudsman Service since the 1990s.
Value for money – our rates are competitive with other organisations offering less experience and expertise in co-operative housing.
Being part of our growing and thriving movement for change and community – housing co-operatives, tenant management organisations, cohousing societies, mutual home ownership societies and other community led housing organisations are about local people and communities developing their own housing solutions. Many have been around for many years demonstrating remarkable sustainability for community organisations, whilst more and more people are now setting up new co-operative and community led housing organisations in many ways. CCH is at the apex of this growing exciting movement – and by working with us, you gain access to it.
CCH provides support and advice in the following areas:
Your governance
We are acknowledged experts in how co-operative and community led housing organisations are governed and how organisations take decisions. We set the standards expected in our sector through our Code of Governance.
Your finance and business planning
We can assist with the development of business plans and long-term finance planning. We have helped many co-operative and community led housing organisations develop or update bespoke business plans.
Managing your risks
We can help co-operative and community led housing organisations to map the potential risks they will face and come up with strategies to manage such risks.
Reviewing your policies
We have databases of policies that fit most circumstances for co-operatives and community led housing organisations. We have worked with many organisations to establish and review policies, both producing policies and enabling dialogue with members and others about policies.
Managing your homes and your “assets”
We can provide advice and support on most aspects of managing your homes, including housing management and repairs systems, damp and mould, planned maintenance, retrofitting, and “asset management”, ensuring that your homes remain fit for purpose now and in the future.
Internal audit
We can provide an independent internal audit for co-operative and community led housing organisations, reviewing particular aspects of your services and giving you appropriate advice and recommendations about what will improve your governance and management.
Climate change and sustainability
With new requirements emerging about housing and climate change, we can provide advice and support regarding how to make your homes sustainable for the future, about retrofitting and advice generally, and about achieving carbon neutrality.
Health checking
We have developed a framework for co-operative and community led housing organisations to enable us to health check how you are operating. This framework can operate both for “Registered Provider” co-operative and community led housing organisations, and non- registered organisations.
Complaints and disputes
We have provided advice and support to co-operative and community led housing organisations on complaints and disputes, through advising how to manage particular complaints and disputes and/or carrying out independent investigations, and through assisting with policy development in this area.
Training and development
CCH is an experienced trainer for co-operative and community led housing organisations and for other organisations. We provide an annual training programme for co-operatives and we can provide bespoke training for particular organisations as necessary. We can provide training particularly in relation to governance, housing management, staffing, and development and in most other areas relating to co-operative and community led housing. We can also provide ongoing training and development support for volunteers where desirable.
Rules and structures
Subject to CCH not being able to provide legal advice, CCH provides advice to co-operatives and community led housing organisations about rules and structures. In particular, CCH has developed model rules, working with our legal advisors, for various types of co-operative and community led housing organisations. We can assist groups decide which rules are correct for their circumstances and we can advise on how to amend rules for existing organisations.
Staffing and service provider issues
CCH can provide general advice relating to staffing and service provider issues – potentially advising on all aspects of staff recruitment and employment and on recruiting and managing service providers.
CCH problem solving service
CCH is well versed in assisting co-operative and community led housing organisations identify problems or challenging issues, and provide solutions to address those problems and challenges.
Ongoing support
CCH can provide ongoing support and ongoing relationships to co-operative and community led housing organisations where this is desirable. For example, CCH is currently providing a part time Chief Officer service to a large housing co-op and we can develop these types of relationships with other organisations as necessary.
Visioning and developing new or refurbished schemes
CCH is a leading expert on the development of new community led housing schemes. CCH runs a training and accreditation programme for community led housing advisors meaning we have access to many individuals skilled in supporting communities, local authorities, housing associations, private developers and others to develop or refurbish homes. CCH can work with existing or new co-operative or community led housing schemes to enable them to scope out viable schemes, identify funding methods, bring in people with skills to support development, enable relationships between partners such as between community groups, the local authority and developer partners, assist with developing governance arrangements and business planning.
Innovative solutions
CCH is skilled in supporting co-operative and community led housing organisations in many areas. If there are other areas you want support in, we will be able to find ways that you can receive support.