Our Story
Victoria Tenants Cooperate is a member-led fully mutual Housing Cooperative with 136 properties founded in the late 1970’s in the Small Heath area of Birmingham by members of an Action Housing Group.
Victoria’s first property was acquired in Cyril Road, with several houses purchased thereafter which are referred to as our pepperpot properties, they cover Small Heath, Haymills, Yardley & Sheldon.
Victoria Tenants Cooperative became an Industrial Provident Society in 1978 and registered with formerly known as the Housing Corporation, this allowed the group to secure grants to build new properties.
Byron Close and Byron Road was one of the builds with a mixture of one-bedroom flats and two, three, Four and Five-Bedroom Houses, this further led to the development of communal flats, Victoria House and Henshaw Road (known as Autumn court).
The name of the coop Victoria Tenants Cooperative was taken from a local landmark in the heart of the community, Small Heath Park, which was originally named Victoria Park.
Since Victoria was founded, it has grown to become one of the largest diverse housing cooperatives in Birmingham.
We are proud to say that our very first members still live within the coop today and we have seen a generation of members from grandparents to grandchildren being part of the coop community.
Over the last 40 years Victoria Tenants Cooperative has had their services through a managing agent. Due to the ever-changing world of housing, fewer face-to-face services and call centres became an obstacle for members.
Victoria Tenants Cooperative members formulated the decision to open an office in the Small Heath area and employ staff to carry out services previously covered by our managing agent.
Going back to good old-fashioned face-to-face communication, improving better engagement between Victoria and its members.
Our Vision
Victoria Tenants Cooperative Ltd is about sustainability and economic growth and maintaining autonomy within the community, especially in the ever-changing world of housing. The Coop embodies cooperative principles and encourages the members to build their community, and to provide good quality and affordable homes. Our aim is to continue to encourage member participation and control of their homes and community in which they live in. Our mission is to empower members to shape their living environment through democratic decision-making, shared responsibility, and kindness. We strive to balance individual needs with the wellbeing of the whole community, ensuring a place we are proud to call home.
What is a Fully Mutual Housing Cooperative
A fully mutual housing coop is a specific type of Cooperative where every tenant living in the property must be a member of the coop and every member must be a tenant (or prospective tenant) A Housing Coop is a residential community that is owned and managed democratically by its residents.
The members are both the tenants and, collectively the ‘Landlords. Housing coops are registered with the Industrial Society Provident to provide a legal structure. Members have an equal say (one member, one vote) this ensures all members have an equal say in financial planning, governance, and maintenance & rent setting.
All members participate in the management and decision making, this collective approach not only helps keep costs low but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among members (tenants) this is carried out by way of a general meeting where members elect a management committee to act on their behalf in the effective running of the coop. The committee elect a Chair, Secretary & Treasurer, other officer may include, repairs, rents & social events.
The rule book is a set of guidelines that govern the operation and management of the cooperative, in a fair and transparent way. The rule book typically includes provisions for membership, governance, management and the rights and responsibilities of members.
Cooperative housing has been established in Birmingham since the 1970s, but the history behind co-operative living goes back when the ROCHDALE PIONEERS founded the society in 1844, forming the basis for the modern co-operative movement we have today.
Click here to see how it started.