Room Available in friendly housing co-op in centra

Kitchen 2 at house on Kingston Street

The Paradise Housing Co-operative (PHC) has two large and unique houses in Cambridge. Each house has 5-6 members. There are now rooms available to let in the Victoria Road and the Kingston Street houses. The rooms are let unfurnished and the rest of the house is fully furnished.

WHAT IS A CO-OPERATIVE?
Co-operatives are not-for-profit and democratic organisations run for and by their members. They are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. We, the members, manage the co-op’s finances and are responsible for maintaining the properties.

WHAT IS PARADISE HOUSING COOPERATIVE?
Each resident automatically becomes a member of the co-op and plays an active role in running it as an organisation. Members join one of four committees (finance, secretarial, policy or maintenance), and are required to attend regular meetings: as a whole co-op (monthly), as a house (monthly) and in whichever committee you are part of.

Active participation and engagement in the running of the households and the co-op is essential and required as part of the tenancy agreement. This arrangement offers a great opportunity to learn new skills for personal development, and to get to know the people you live with as both housemates, friends, and co-op colleagues.

Due to the co-op being member-run, we are able to keep the rent affordable. Rent and bills come to less than £400 p/m for prime Cambridge locations, and we democratically decide how to spend our budget.

WHAT ARE OUR HOUSEHOLDS LIKE?
Together, we strive to have a house that feels like ‘home’: friendly, clean, and tidy. We all work full-time and have our own lives and activities, and enjoy catching up in the kitchen and occasionally getting together for meals, BBQs and other activities. We like to come home and feel as if it is our sanctuary, and to respect the space and each other.

We all have different interests, professions, ages, nationalities, and backgrounds. We value this inclusive and diverse living arrangement and appreciate the need to have open, respectful and ongoing discussions to navigate how to collaboratively create a home life that suits us all. The cooperative is a unique set-up, and while we aim to create a supportive environment, we also all individually support and resource ourselves outside of the cooperative too, to take care of our own wellbeing.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Our ideal housemate would be someone responsible and open-minded, able to engage in discussions and shared living with empathy, sensitivity, and assertiveness, and who is happy to contribute to the development of the cooperative and a friendly and warm atmosphere. A good sense of humour is very welcome too :)

HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this alternative housing option, we would really like to hear from you! Please message us for more information and an application form ASAP. We are happy to answer more questions about the PHC.

Our deadline for receiving applications is Saturday January 29th (midnight). Interviews and house viewings are planned for the week of January 31st.

After the application form is received, we will send you a link to choose an interview slot; first come first served so submit your application asap!