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CEHL provides appropriate, secure, and affordable housing and fosters rental housing co-operatives to thrive, so that more Victorians experience the dignity of a home in a community guided by the seven international cooperative principles.
Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL) has nearly 40 years of experience in managing and developing co-operative and affordable rental housing.
More than 2000 properties are in the CEHL portfolio, predominately managed by 90+ housing co-operatives.
Housing co-operatives are an alternative to private rental or home ownership. They offer secure, long-term tenancies at affordable rent and within a supportive community.
A housing co-operative is a group of people working together to meet their housing needs. Co-op members share activities in managing and running their housing co-op, with opportunities for all members to participate. CEHL is Australia’s largest provider of co-op housing.
The co-operative movement is a well-established international movement, based on the principles of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and unity.
CEHL originated from a grassroots movement focused on rental housing co-operatives during the 1980s, a period marked by declining housing affordability and increasing social disconnection.
Its primary objective was establishing a rental housing model within the social housing system that allowed co-operative housing members to manage their residences actively. These co-operatives took charge of various aspects, including property management, financial record-keeping, and tenant relationships, fostering skill development.
Concurrently, CEHL offered technical expertise, program oversight, asset portfolio management, and resource allocation to support these co-operatives. Over time, CEHL has grown to encompass over 90 co-operatives, including larger-scale co-operative models and housing within apartment buildings. CEHL’s current property valuation is over 1.1 billion dollars (AUD).
CEHL provides appropriate, secure, and affordable housing and fosters rental housing co-operatives to thrive, so that more Victorians experience the dignity of a home in a community guided by the seven international cooperative principles.
Co-op Elected Director
Melanie, a CEHL co-operative member since 2021, is an experienced executive support professional with a background in government, Aboriginal affairs, and the not-for-profit sector. With over 20 years of experience in administration, stakeholder coordination, and cooperative governance, she has supported leaders across sectors and is passionate about community-led housing, inclusion, and social justice.