ACHA says co-op housing most suitable for many Australian retirees

10 February 2025

Liz Thomas, the chair of the Australia Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA), today said she welcomed the Grattan Institute’s “renting in retirement” report as a significant and important addition to the affordable housing debate which will be a key theme in the upcoming federal election.

Ms Thomas said that while all retirees understandably would prefer to own their own home, cooperative housing should then be considered as an appropriate and attractive option for the thousands of people around Australia who are no longer working and are not financially secure.

She said a report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has explored housing preferences of older, low-income households and identified optimal models to meet their needs.

Ms Thomas, who is also managing director and CEO of BCCM member Common Equity Housing Ltd (CEHL), noted that the report found shared equity home ownership and co-operative housing are the top two preferred options for low-income older Australians.

Federal Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil and Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers in late January toured the CEHL co-operative housing project at Lakewood in Melbourne, with co-op tenants explaining how co-operative housing provides not just a place to live but a thriving community built on affordability, security, and shared responsibility. The $12.4 million refurbishment of Lakewood Co-operative in Melbourne’s east was completed in early 2024. Jointly funded by the Federal Government and ACHA member CEHL, the refurbishment transformed 80 homes, providing Lakewood Co-op Members with secure, high-quality, and affordable accommodation.

About Liz Thomas

Liz commenced as Managing Director of Common Equity Housing Ltd (CEHL) in November 2021. She has more than 20 years of Board Director and Managing Director experience in a range of companies, including her own consulting practice. Liz led the transformation of Wayss housing and family violence services in Victoria. She led the development of the Common Ground social housing project in Tasmania and Australia’s first residential dementia village. Liz specialises in managing change, stakeholders and bringing people together. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Sociology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).