Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. What will buying a house in the community include?
2. Do we get to own our own home?
3. Can we sell it?
4. What comes with an ‘eco’ home?
5. Can we rent our house out?
6. What is the financial risk of putting our money in to make the cohousing neighbourhood happen?
7. How many others will be part of this community?
8. Will there be a conflict resolution process?
9. How does the selection process happen and what’s involved?
10. How will decisions be made?
11. Is this a new idea or an old model?
12. Beyond the recreational fun things like community meals and meeting for chats, how much time will we be expected to contribute to keep the community running?
13. How much privacy will I have?
14. Can we still grow our own vegies next to our own house?
15. Where is the site?
16. What schools and preschools are nearby?
1. What will buying a house in the community include?
Ownership of your chosen home and a share of the community facilities (including the common house, common land & gardens, carpark, driveway etc)
2. Do we get to own our own home?
Yes. You will have unit title ownership of your home.
3. Can we sell it?
Yes, like any other home. On the title will be a requirement that new owners agree to the membership agreement.
4. What comes with an ‘eco’ home?
The homes will be designed to harness the sun for winter warmth and avoid over-heating in the summer. They will be well insulated and use healthy, breathable building materials.
5. Can we rent our house out?
Yes. Tenants would need to agree to the vision of the community and sign the membership agreement.
6. What is the financial risk of putting our money in to make the cohousing neighbourhood happen?
Fully committed members (who have paid a $2,000 full membership fee which goes towards their home) contribute whatever funds they are able/willing to, to make the cohousing neighbourhood happen. As a group, we need to provide significant funds prior to site works starting, which is when bank financing steps in to fund the remainder of the project. Full Financial Members contribute 30% of the estimated purchase price of their home. Full Members who do not currently have funds beyond the $2,000 Full Membership fee share the financial risks. Regardless of how much Full Financial Members contribute, all members share equally in the financial risks. We will be sharing the risk through a formal risk sharing agreement (also known as a deed of indemnity). We are scrupulously doing due diligence and following advice of experts in their various fields.
7. How many others will be part of this community?
There will be approx. 30 homes. A maximum of 50 adults and however many children they have.
8. Will there be a conflict resolution process?
A communication agreement is currently in place plus a meeting procedure that enables a fair hearing for each member. A further conflict resolution process is currently under development.
9. How does the selection process happen and what’s involved?
People self-select – they choose to align with the values, vision, mission, communication and other agreements.
10. How will decisions be made?
We use a consensus decision making process using a well-designed card system. Some decisions will be delegated to working groups.
11. Is this a new idea or an old model?
Cohousing incorporates old and new ideas. It is widely embraced in some countries such as Denmark.
12. Beyond the recreational fun things like community meals and meeting for chats, how much time will we be expected to contribute to keep the community running?
Contributions of time will be required from each adult to help with various activities necessary to keep the community running, such as garden maintenance and keeping accounts. These expectations of residents are still being worked through, but we don’t expect them to be onerous. It has been found that the most successful cohousing neighbourhood have a common house which has good spaces for social interaction and is used 80% of the time.
13. How much privacy will I have?
The site will be designed so that residents can choose privacy. We will also have ways in which to show others that we are in a social mood, or that we want to be left alone. In addition, we will develop guidelines about respecting people’s privacy when working on their own house and garden, such as – the house owner would initiate conversation with passers-by if they feel like interacting, otherwise their privacy is respected. This and other practices are already in play at the Earthsong Cohousing Eco-neighbourhood, and the residents really value the privacy this gives.
14. Can we still grow our own vegies next to our own house?
Yes, and fruit trees.
15. Where is the site?
We have looked at a few sites. When anything official happens (like an offer being accepted) we will let interested people know.
16. What schools and preschools are nearby?
That depends on the location, but we are taking this into account when choosing sites.
Expression of interest
Please contact us to express your interest in becoming a member of the New Plymouth Cohousing Community.
newplymouthcohousing.nz 