Co-op Chronicles 2024

We were delighted to be featured in a publication marking the 10-year anniversary of the UK’s first student housing co-operatives. It documents the history, achievements, challenges, and future of the student housing co-op movement, offering a rich mix of personal stories, political context, and practical insights. 

1. Foundations: History & Context

• Student housing co-ops have deep roots, with early efforts dating back to the 1960s and 70s, though momentum stalled in the 80s–90s.

• The revival in the 2010s was driven by student activism against austerity, tuition hikes, and exploitative housing.

• Co-ops emerged as a radical alternative to marketised student housing, offering affordability, democracy, and community.

• The movement is transnational, drawing inspiration from North America and Europe, and is now building a pan-European network.

2. Origin Stories

• Each co-op (Edinburgh, Birmingham, Sheffield, Brighton) followed a unique path, but all were built by committed student organisers.

• Success depended on external support from co-op federations, councils, universities, and ethical lenders.

• Founders overcame major barriers (property access, finance, legal complexity) through persistence, creativity, and solidarity.

• The stories show that student-led housing is possible, scalable, and transformative.

3. Co-op Life & Labour

• Life in a co-op is deeply communal and participatory: members share governance, chores, maintenance, and decision-making.

• Co-ops foster personal growth, skill-building, and a strong sense of belonging.

• Challenges include conflict resolution, gender dynamics, and knowledge retention due to student turnover.

• Despite difficulties, co-ops offer a radically different housing experience: affordable, empowering, and rooted in care.

4. What’s Next?

• The movement is expanding to new cities (e.g. Glasgow, Manchester, Cork) but faces structural barriers: rising property prices, legal hurdles, and lack of institutional support.

• There’s a call for policy change, funding, and recognition to help co-ops scale.

• International collaboration is growing, with the formation of ESCHA (European Student Co-operative Housing Association).

• The future depends on solidarity, intergenerational support, and sustained organising.

• The movement is supported by global networks like Co-operative Housing International, Urbamonde, and Student Co-op Homes.

• Cork Student Housing Co-op is featured as an emerging group, with reflections from AJ and Iona on their visit to SEASALT and participation in the UK-Ireland student co-op gathering.

• Student housing co-ops offer a viable, democratic, and affordable alternative to exploitative rental markets.

• They are student-led, community-oriented, and values-driven.

• The movement is growing, but needs sustained support to scale and thrive.

Read it here: Link.

Edited by: Anke Schwittay (University of Sussex) and Scott Jennings (Student Co-op Homes)

Published by: University of Sussex / Student Co-operative Homes