• Concentrated reading Read everything carefully!

New Membership Application Form
Download now

All the applicants and co-applicants MUST sign and date the last page for us to process your application. If there are any signatures missing, we will not accept the application.

Terms & Conditions

Member Registration fee
$20.00 per Member - (mandatory and non refundable) Please do not send any cash or cheques in the mail. This fee only applies AFTER you have been accepted as a co-op member.

Member Share Purchase
$2,000 - $2,500 per residence - this fee is refundable when you move out less any charges or fines that you might have occurred. See here for further details.

Member participation
A minimum of 4 to 6 hours of work per month and attendance at General Meetings is a required commitment by all members upon entering the co-op.

Rules of Byrne Creek Housing Co-op
and our Occupancy Agreement Download now

For legal information about co-ops in BC please check out the BC Cooperative Association Act and Regulations

We allow pets!
But certain limitations apply. No animal may exceed a weight of 25 pounds. All pets must be registered with the co-op and must be spayed or neutered.

What are you good at?
All members are encouraged to support our community by taking part in our committees.


 

The Seven Principles of Housing Co-operatives

Adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance in Manchester, United Kingdom, on September 23, 1995.

Voluntary and Open Membership open panel

  1. Co-op membership is open to everyone willing to join who accepts the responsibility of membership.
  2. Members are not accepted simply because they can afford to join. A co-op is formed to provide a service, not to make a profit.
  3. Racial and other forms of discrimination are not allowed. Housing co-ops have proven to be a successful mix of different peoples and different income groups.

Democratic Member Control open panel

  1. Co-operatives are democratic, run by the members for the members.
  2. No decisions are made without member support. All members have an equal say in managing and operating the co-op.

Member Economic Participation open panel

  1. Members contribute equitably to and democratically control the capital of their co-operative.
  2. Members receive limited compensation, if any, on shares.
  3. Surpluses are used for the following purposes: developing the co-operative and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
  4. No member can profit on money invested in the co-operative.

Autonomy and Independence open panel

Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

Education, Training and Information open panel

Every co-op member has the right and the responsibility to participate, to help make decisions and give leadership. Every co-op has the responsibility to give its members the training and information they need to do this.

Co-operation among Co-operatives open panel

Co-ops share ideas and co-operate with other co-ops as often as possible. Working together, co-ops can help each other solve common problems. Working together, co-ops can have a greater political voice at Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels.

Concern for Community open panel

While focusing on member need's, co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

Subsidies (currently not available)

This Co-op has a fixed number of subsidies and they do not become available for assignment often.  There are a number of criteria for receiving a subsidy including:

  • a member in the unit is a senior citizen.
  • a member in the unit has a physical disability.
  • a member in the unit is living on social assistance.

The amount of subsidy anyone receives is based on a formula related to your subsidy; commonly there is a maximum percentage of the household income. To apply for a subsidy, you will need to provide proof of your income and, possibly, your assets. The information provided regarding subsidy applications is collected for a government office and is not available to other members in the Co-op.

If you are trying to join a Co-op because you need a subsidy, you should contact CHF/BC or BC Housing. If you require accessible housing, we recommend contacting the BC Paraplegic Association. These agencies are often aware of available housing which is not advertised.

There are two types of Co-ops in BC: CMHC Co-ops (like Byrne Creek) and BC Housing Co-ops. You should understand both kinds and be alert to the advantages and disadvantages of both. BC Housing Co-ops have more subsidies but whether you see that as an advantage or not is something to consider. BC Housing Co-ops do not generally accept applications from people who do not qualify for a subsidy, for example, but CMHC Co-ops allow members who pay Market housing and wish to be part of a the community.