Lister is a housing co-operative – we are owned (collectively) by our tenants. Each new tenant has to apply for membership, pay a one-off £1 membership fee and become a ‘member’, i.e. shareholder of the Co-op. If you have a joint tenancy (e.g. with your spouse/partner) then you would each need to become members.
Our members/shareholders are only our tenants – we have no other members. This gives our tenants the power to control their housing co-op.
The policies, decisions and direction of Lister are decided by the Management Committee, who are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee employ the staff and are formally responsible for the organisation.
As a co-operative, we do not trade for ‘profit’ or personal gain – all surpluses are retained for re-investment in the co-op. There is no dividend payable to shareholders and if one leaves or dies then the £1 share is surrendered to Lister.
We have more information on membership and this will be supplied to people who are about to be offered a tenancy, as part of the Lister membership application process.
