FAQs

What is cohousing? 

In a word, “cohousing” (sometimes spelled “co-housing”) is an intentional community in which residents actively participate in the operation and maintenance of their own community. It offers multiple benefits for residents of all ages. For a better understanding of this exciting concept, click here.

How many residences are there in Richmond Cohousing?

Our community has a total of 19 units (3 one-bedroom units, 13 two-bedroom units, and 3 three-bedroom units).

Are units available to rent or to buy?  

We are primarily an owner-occupied community, however some rental or sales opportunities occur from time to time. When units become available, rental and/or purchase opportunities are posted on our website and shared via e-mail.

How is an urban cohousing community different from a traditional condo building?

The differences can be summed up as intent, opportunity, and expectations. Cohousing common spaces are designed, furnished, and equipped to foster frequent planned and spontaneous interactions, whether in the parking lot, at the mailbox, in the lobby or hallway, in the Great Room, or on the roof deck.  All major design elements have a common purpose: to help residents get to know one another better, building a sense of community. The magic is in serendipitous connections. A brief chat with a neighbor can happen any time. For instance, we run into folks when someone is bringing in groceries, sitting under the canopy on the “back porch,” or gathering at Easy Start for coffee on Saturday mornings. We often can find a friend willing to take a walk or play a game of ping-pong. We can also ask a neighbor for help with pet care or a complicated recipe, share popcorn on an impromptu movie night, or literally ask for a cup of sugar. 

We reinforce connections like these by managing our community together. The work takes place in committees and the workshare teams that maintain our building, grounds and the administration of the HOA. We share a common meal once a week, rotating responsibilities for shopping, cooking, and cleaning.  We communicate with each other electronically on GroupMe, in texts, and by email and often in large and small groups, too. It is an expectation of membership in Richmond Cohousing that everyone contributes to the well-being of the whole by actively participating in at least one standing committee and one routine maintenance team. Examples of maintenance teams are the recycling group, the rooftop gardeners, or the group that vacuums the stairwells and hallways. But we also value ingenuity. If someone has an idea for a new work team, a tweak for a current one, or a new approach to a particular job, there’s a way to offer those thoughts to the larger group for discussion. 

By contrast, apartment or condo living can be an isolating and lonely experience. Lacking genuine intent to create community, standard apartments and condos can promote a sense of anonymity instead. The expectation grows that people generally keep their distance, making most interactions fairly superficial.  As a result, even attractive common areas in many apartment and condo buildings remain empty and uninviting. 

How is the community governed?

All members participate in the governance and management of Richmond Cohousing. We make major decisions using modified consensus. Legally, we are structured as a condo association.

What do you mean by “consensus”?

A good explanation for consensus comes from a British site called Seeds for Change, which says that “consensus decision-making is a creative and dynamic way of reaching agreement between all members of a group. Instead of simply voting for an item and letting the majority prevail, a group using consensus is committed to finding solutions that everyone either actively supports or at least can “live with”.

If I buy a unit, what will I own?

You will own your home and your equal portion of the common spaces and land. Unit ownership and any future sale will be conventional and primarily the responsibility of the homeowner. Cohousing communities typically have excellent re-sale values with a waiting list of interested future buyers.

Will I be able to have a pet?

Yes. Residents can have up to two per unit. We agree to uphold Richmond City ordinances, allow only service animals within indoor common areas, and restrict cats to the indoors. 

What is a “Common House”?

A Common House serves as the central social space for a cohousing group. In effect, it’s the heart of the community. In our case, our common house encompasses the Great Room and other spaces on the first floor of our building, including a large kitchen and dining area suitable for shared meals, a children’s play room, a craft room, and a guest room. Nearby there’s a multi-purpose room with space for storage, a workshop, and play area. On the top floor we share a 3,000+ square foot rooftop deck.

How do we pay for shared facilities like the Common House?

A portion of the cost of construction for shared facilities like the Common House was included in the cost of each individual unit. We pay on-going maintenance costs through a monthly HOA fee, which also covers internet service, water and sewer fees, as well as our reserve fund. In addition we pay a monthly resident fee for shared activities, including common meals and celebrations. We keep our HOA fees relatively low by maintaining the building ourselves. As with other aspects of cohousing life, the community decides what maintenance tasks need to be done and the best way to accomplish them.

How are common meals managed?

Most cohousing communities find that shared meals are a major factor in the life of a warm and supportive community. They are an important part of our community, too.  We typically share one common meal a week. Attendance is optional, but most of our members choose to participate as their schedules allow.  We have rotating cooking/cleaning teams, which means each member of the community cooks and cleans on a team periodically, but we each have a chance to sit down and eat more often than we have to do the meal prep and clean-up.  On balance, it’s a fun experience, and we make great meals!

Are there other shared activities?

Yes. Besides common meals, there are work group meetings, work parties and other regular gatherings.   Community members find it’s easy to join a group that decides to do something spontaneous together, such as go to a movie or a concert, take a hike, or go on a bike ride. These groups emerge organically. One activity we instituted that quickly became a favorite was Easy Start Saturdays. This is a 2-hour Saturday morning coffee with spontaneous discussion around whatever topic pops up.  Some people come for the whole two hours, while others join for just a portion of the time – whatever works best that day. Sometimes there’s a whole group discussion of a particular topic, but the group can just as easily break into smaller conversations with just 2 or 3. The design of the community makes it easy to connect with other people who enjoy the same things.

How are homes maintained?

As in other condo associations, members are responsible for the maintenance of their individual units. Maintenance of the common areas, building exterior, and grounds are the shared responsibility of the community. We decide by consensus how to organize the work. If we chose to hire out some of it, we pay for that with our homeowners association fees.

What about paying for utilities?

The condo association facilitates building-wide internet, trash, and water. Each residence is responsible for its own electricity bill. Utilities for the common facilities are paid from association fees.