Arrears Management Tip Sheet
Agency for Co-operative Housing
Search
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
Managing Your Business
Housing co-operatives are small businesses formed to provide housing for their members. They prosper best when they are fully occupied and members pay their housing charges in full and on time.
A housing co-op is not a complex business, but it takes work to keep it going. As the steward of your
Fill Your Units
You can never get back the money you lose when a unit stands empty. Whenever a member gives notice, it’s important to get the word out, which is usually the responsibility of the manager. As soon as a prospect gets in touch, your co-op needs to follow up promptly. Otherwise, they will go elsewhere.
Get Paid
Your co-operative is in the housing business, not the lending business. It has bills to pay and a building to keep up. You should keep this in mind when members don’t pay on time.
If a household doesn’t pay what it owes and moves out, the co-operative is left with a bad debt, which will have to be
Budget Well
To avoid running out of money, your co-op needs to adopt a well thought-out operating budget every year. Without one, you could find yourself facing a deficit, paying your bills late, cutting back on repairs to units and unable to update and replace worn-out building elements.
Begin the process by
Protect Your Assets
Your co-op has three main assets, although only one appears on the audited financial statements.
Your money and buildings
Protect your co-op‘s property by buying the right insurance in the right amounts. All housing co-ops need five kinds of insurance: property, loss of housing charges, public
Borrow Money
As you come to the end of your mortgage, or earlier, your housing co-operative may need to borrow new money. The property may need more work than the capital replacement reserve can fund. Or you may have been looking forward to updating the older elements of your buildings and units. Some co-ops
Tip of the Month
Management Trend
The trend to hire management companies continues. 58% of co-ops hire management companies, compared to 28% that employ independent staff as their managers.