Guide to Maintenance Planning in your Housing Co-op
Agency for Co-operative Housing
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Your Expiring Operating Agreement
Over the next few years, many housing co-operatives will see their operating agreement come to an end. This event could mean a new beginning for your co-op. You can enjoy a bright future without an operating agreement—provided you play your cards right.
Perhaps your co-op’s future includes major
FCM: Sustainable Affordable Housing Fund
Date
29 May 2020
On May 15, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) launched a $300 million fund to support sustainable affordable housing. This fund will help pay for the planning and delivery of retrofits and new construction for higher energy performance.
Here’s what we know so far from FCM….
The Green
Chadwick Towers Prepays its Mortgage
Date
13 July 2020
In 2018 CMHC made an offer to a particular group of clients, which the Agency encouraged them to accept. For a limited time, S61 co-ops locked into a high interest rate could prepay their mortgages without the usual penalty. (Unfortunately, the opportunity is no longer available.) Chadwick Towers, a
Thinking about cutting your maintenance costs? Think again
Date
24 November 2020
Maintenance costs are a big part of your co-op’s annual budget. Unlike with your mortgage, insurance and property taxes, you can decide to cut your maintenance costs. And we usually think that lower costs are better.
But wait! With maintenance costs, lower might not be better. Lower maintenance
CMHC Preservation Fund Information Sheet
Agency for Co-operative Housing
Funding Your Co-op Could Qualify For
Date
25 January 2022
CMHC’s National Housing Co-Investment Fund hasn’t drawn great interest from Agency clients so far. In fact, it may be the most overlooked funding source in Canada for housing co-ops. We’re hoping to change that.
The fund supports building repair and renewal, as well as new construction, with
Best Practices for Capital Spending
Date
15 July 2025
Capital spending refers to investments in major repairs and replacements. Typically, a capital expenditure is an expense of $2,000 or more for a building or landscaping project. It does not include maintenance-related repairs or replacements or any items that are normally described as operating
Caring for Your Buildings
Housing co-operatives have just one valuable asset: their property. So it makes sense to take care of it.
A well-kept housing co‑operative has prouder, happier members who love their homes. It’s a place where other people want to live. And one that will serve generations to come, far into the
Tip of the Month
Good Vacancy Loss
Some vacancy loss is by choice, because units are being refreshed for new members. So not a loss but an investment.