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About Kindling Housing Co-op
About Kindling Housing Co-op
Q: What is Kindling Housing Co-op?
Q: What is Kindling Housing Co-op?
A: Kindling coop is a group of people who share a home and run it together—there’s no landlord. Instead of just renting a room, you become a member and help make decisions about how things work.
The founding members of the co-op raised money to get a mortgage on a house near Cowley Centre in 2016 and several generations of members have since made it into a warm and cosy space which includes eight bedrooms, a nice kitchen, and two-and-a-half bathrooms.
The idea behind the housing co-op is simple: affordable, stable housing where everyone has a say.
Q: How is living in a co-op different from renting or owning a house?
Q: How is living in a co-op different from renting or owning a house?
A: The biggest difference is control and community—there’s no landlord. We manage the house together, share responsibilities like chores, maintenance and food shopping, and make decisions as a group. Instead of paying rent to a property owner who is trying to make a profit, we pay into the co-op, keeping costs fair for everyone.
Unlike owning a home, no one profits from the house—it’s collectively owned by the co-op, which is registered as a legal entity, rather than being owned by any individuals.
This means:
- No landlord: Everyone who lives in the house collectively decides how the house is run and maintained
- Non-profit model: Rent covers costs, not private gain.
- Equal say: Everyone, new or long-term, has the same voting power.
If you leave, you don’t sell or transfer ownership—a new member simply takes your place.
Joining the Co-op
Joining the Co-op
Q: Who can apply to live here?
Q: Who can apply to live here?
A: We welcome people from all backgrounds—you don’t need to have lived in a co-op before.
What matters is that you’re up for:
- Sharing responsibilities (like cooking, cleaning and maintaining the house).
- Making decisions together and being part of a community.
- Keeping the space affordable and well-maintained for everyone (including future members) by contributing fairly.
When a room opens up, we post about it online. If you're interested, you fill out the google form on our website. If this poses a barrier, let us know! We are open to receiving your answers in voice or video format. We then shortlist for interviews (as it's tough to make the time for 8 of us to meet everyone that applies). If you're offered the room and decide to move in, you'll have a six-month trial period (with a check-in after three months) to make sure it’s working for everyone. After that, you would become a full member, with no limits on how long you can stay here!
Money & Bills
Money & Bills
Q: How much does it cost to live here?
Q: How much does it cost to live here?
A: Every member contributes:
💰 £550 per month for rent and council tax (paid at the start of the month).
If you’re struggling financially, we can discuss and agree on a temporary reduction in a house meeting.
We’re committed to keeping our rent capped at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), so people on benefits can afford to live here.
⚡ £150 per month for bills (covers electricity, gas, internet, water, and ALL our shared food like bulk dry food, veg boxes and groceries).
We also try to share some of the financial load for bills and food across members. If someone earns over £1,200 per month (after tax), we ask them to chip in an extra 5% of what they make above that.
🔹 A £200 deposit when you move in.
💡 If paying a deposit upfront is tough, let us know—we may know of some options for support with this.
This is subject to change, but we would discuss and agree any changes together with all members.
Chores & Maintenance
Chores & Maintenance
Q: How do chores work?
Q: How do chores work?
A: We all do our bit! Some chores rotate, while others are assigned for a set time before we swap. We keep track with a chore board and send weekly reminders to help everyone stay on top of things.
Q: Who fixes things when they break?
Q: Who fixes things when they break?
A: We do small repairs ourselves, but if something big breaks, we hire a professional. We have:
💰 A yearly budget for small fixes (like plumbing or appliances).
🔧 A long-term budget for major repairs (like replacing a boiler or fixing the roof).
Food & Cooking
Food & Cooking
Q: How does food buying and shared meals work?
Q: How does food buying and shared meals work?
A: Food is a big part of our community! Each member takes turns cooking about once a week, making a meal that’s at least vegetarian (often vegan). Dinner is usually served around 7:30-8:30 PM.
We also purchase food using our house budget (included in your bills payment):
📦 Order dry goods in bulk every month (saves money + cuts waste).
This includes items like rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes, lentils, beans
🥕 Get a weekly organic veg box delivered to the house.
This includes seasonal fresh fruit and veg
🛒 Take turns doing small weekly grocery shops for things like bread, butter, cheese, eggs, and frozen fruit.
We try to keep meat and fish out of the house (except tinned cat food).
Q: Do I have to eat dinner with everyone every evening?
Q: Do I have to eat dinner with everyone every evening?
A: No, it’s completely up to you! We take turns cooking so there is shared dinner available almost every night, but you can join in as you like, ask the cook to save you leftovers if you're out late, or cook your own meals when the kitchen is free. You're also very welcome take your dinner to your bedroom if you're feeling like some alone time.
Shared Values and Decision-making
Shared Values and Decision-making
Q: How do we make decisions as a group?
Q: How do we make decisions as a group?
A: We make decisions collectively using consensus, which means we discuss until we find a solution everyone can live with, rather than just going with the majority.
We have regular house meetings once every two weeks (currently on Tuesday evenings) to check in, plan, and resolve issues. Everyone takes part, and we aim for open, honest conversations where all voices are heard. We all take turns to lead the meeting and take notes. If you're new to this way of deciding things, don’t worry—we support each other in learning how to make it work.
Q: How important are shared political beliefs and values?
Q: How important are shared political beliefs and values?
A: Kindling is built on collective care, solidarity, and a commitment to radical social and environmental change. We’re part of Radical Routes, which means our members are expected to be actively involved in work that challenges power structures and builds grassroots alternatives—whether that’s through activism, mutual aid, cooperative projects, or other forms of organising.
That said, we don’t all have to think the same way or have all the same beliefs. What matters is a shared commitment to values like anti-racism, anti-capitalism, feminism, accessibility, and environmental justice.
We also believe in meeting people where they’re at, learning from each other, and supporting personal and collective transformation. We also recognize that everyone has different capacities and access needs.
Q: What is Radical Routes?
Q: What is Radical Routes?
A: Radical Routes is a network of housing and worker co-ops across the UK, working together for social and environmental change. It's made up of people who believe in collective ownership, mutual aid, and challenging capitalism by creating alternatives—like housing that isn’t about profit and workplaces that are run cooperatively.
As a member of Radical Routes, we commit to actively participating in this wider network. This means attending quarterly gatherings and contributing to shared working groups.
Pets, Outdoor Space and Parking
Pets, Outdoor Space and Parking
Q: Are pets allowed?
Q: Are pets allowed?
A: Pets are welcome if everyone agrees. We currently have one cat that lives just in the back garden and isn't allowed in the house to protect a current member who is allergic. In the past, too many pets in one space caused issues, so we try to keep numbers balanced.
Q: Can I park my car here?
Q: Can I park my car here?
A: Parking is limited. Currently we have two members who own a car, so we only have one more parking spot at the moment. Each member gets a secure bike parking spot, and we have little bit of extra space in the back.
Q: What’s the garden like?
Q: What’s the garden like?
A: We have a shared garden with veggie beds and a fire pit. We all pitch in to keep it nice!
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