Flamenco Housing Co-Operative

FLAMENCO HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE

Registered address: 15a Waller Road, London SE14 5LE

Date:

Dear Applicant,

Thank-you for your interest in the Flamenco Housing Co-op. Flamenco was formed in 1986 to provide low cost, shared accommodation for single people on low incomes and in urgent housing need (often not eligible for priority Council housing).

We believe in the concept of co-operative housing, in that it encourages self-help, meets the needs of its members in a democratic and direct way and provides affordable housing as an alternative to the private sector.

There are six shared flats (No’s 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 19a and 19b Waller Road, New Cross Gate, SE14), providing single rooms for 15 members. We are part of the CHISEL Housing Association, who provided funds and assistance for the development of these properties. The collection of rent and maintenance of the properties is managed by CHISEL and LFSA (Lewisham Family Self-Help Association) respectively.

All properties have a shared kitchen (white goods, table and chairs included), bathroom, living room (including sofa) and access to a garden. All properties have gas central heating. On top of basic rent, members pay a monthly Council Tax fee, maintenance fee and white goods and furniture replacement fees. The properties are furnished only in communal areas (bedrooms are unfurnished), and all household bills are the responsibility of the tenants.

As a small self-run unit, members of the Co-op must be prepared to participate fully in all levels of Co-op management, which includes attending meetings within the Co-op and occasionally at the CHISEL Housing Association; taking responsibility for official posts (such as Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Allocations Officer etc….), on a rota basis, and demonstrating a commitment to training programmes provided by CHISEL to promote efficiency in co-operative housing generally.

If you are interested in applying to the Co-op, please complete the attached form. However, due to the heavy demand for housing, we can only accept applications that can fulfil all of the following criteria:

·  In urgent housing need

·  Single (with no co-dependents)

·  Low income

·  A willingness to live in shared accommodation and abide by the agreed house policies I shared areas

·  A commitment to the local area

·  An agreement to attend monthly meetings and to take responsibility for official management posts

Once we receive your application form we will let you know if you have been selected for an interview for the waiting list. An acceptance or rejection letter onto the waiting list follows the interviews. If you are accepted onto the waiting list, your form will be retained until a room becomes vacant at which point the remaining occupants of the flat with the vacant room will contact those on the waiting list to select a suitable applicant from it.

The Flamenco Housing Co-op is open to people regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Yours faithfully

The Allocations Officer

Flamenco Housing Co-op