BCCM study tour report findings and policy recommendations

17 December 2024

In 2024 the BCCM led a study tour of Copenhagen, Vienna and Zurich – cities with a high proportion of affordable housing co-operatives – to look for ideas to help solve Australia’s housing crisis.

A growing proportion of Australians are renting and there is a shortage of secure tenured, affordable housing for Australians who are unable to own. Housing co-ops fill this niche in many of the most liveable cities in the world. They are the mutual model of build to rent and the missing piece in the solution to Australia’s housing shortage.

Our tour found that housing co-operatives can be accessible to a wide range of income households, stabilising affordability and improving residents’ quality of life. The co-ops can pay for themselves, be cost-neutral for the government, increase the spending power of residents and positively impact local economies.

In October 2024, the study tour report was published: What Australia can learn from European affordable co-operative rental housing models: A report on findings from the BCCM 2024 European Co-op Housing study tour.

The BCCM held a virtual presentation and discussion of the report findings and policy recommendations on 9 December 2024 with report author Dr Sidsel Grimstad and Liz Thomas, Chair of ACHA, Executive Director of Common Equity Housing Ltd and tour participant. Watch the webinar on-demand:

Link

Resources from the webinar

• Webinar presentation
• Q&A from the webinar
• What Australia can learn from European affordable co-operative rental housing models: A report on findings from the BCCM 2024 European Co-op Housing study tour
• European co-operative housing study tour photo gallery

 Find out more about co-operative housing:

• BCCM’s co-operative housing page
• BCCM National Affordable Housing Policy: Action on Housing
• Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA)

We look forward to working with all stakeholders for recognition and action on the role of housing co-operatives in addressing housing need in Australia.