Top FAQs About Cohousing: Everything You Need to Know
Are you curious about joining our cohousing community but unsure if it’s the right fit for you? At Tākaka Cohousing, we understand that you have a lot of important questions. In this post, we’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you explore whether this sustainable, community-oriented lifestyle is right for you.
What is Cohousing, and How Does It Work?
At Tākaka Cohousing, you live in your own private home while sharing common spaces, including gardens, a Common House, and laundry facilities (depending on what each neighbourhood is set up to provide). This fosters a strong sense of community where neighbours connect, collaborate, and support one another.
Our design prioritises a balance between privacy and communal living, allowing you to enjoy your own space while being part of a vibrant, interconnected neighbourhood. Learn more about cohousing principles here.
How Does Ownership Work in a Cohousing Community?
Our development is managed by Mōhua Ventures, a charitable business owned by Te Hapori Hauora, a registered charitable trust. Each home at Tākaka Cohousing comes with its own Unit Title, similar to apartment ownership, which banks recognize for mortgage approvals. Homes are sold at cost, reflecting the actual expenses of building these sustainable homes.
Homeowners own their individual houses and the land directly beneath them.
The surrounding common areas are collectively managed by the Body Corporate.
Learn more about ownership and finances here.
How much are Body Corporate Fees?
Body Corporate fees are approximately $4,000-$4,500 per year and can be paid monthly. These fees cover:
Maintenance of shared spaces like gardens and community facilities
House insurance
High-speed internet, purchased as a collective for cost efficiency
How Much Privacy Do I Have?
Community interaction is a key aspect of the cohousing lifestyle, but your home remains your personal sanctuary. Our designs prioritise privacy, and you can personalise your outdoor space with features like decks, hot tubs, or fire pits.
Participation in communal activities is entirely voluntary, allowing you to engage at your own comfort level.
What Kind of Shared Amenities Are Included?
Residents at Tākaka Cohousing enjoy access to various shared amenities, including:
Designated spaces for gardens and fruit trees
A workshop-equipped community shed
A Common House perfect for social gatherings, potlucks, and community events
These amenities encourage collaboration - whether it’s a potluck dinner, gardening, or DIY projects - while reducing the need for individual ownership of resources, promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.
The first cohousing neighbourhood’s Common House, an impressive traditional timber frame building incorporating hempcrete panels and natural plasters.
How Are Decisions Made Within the Community?
Residents practise collaborative decision-making through group discussions using a coloured card system. You can join working groups focused on a specific aspect of life in the neighbourhood, such as gardening, land maintenance, or administration, ensuring everyone has a say in shaping how the neighbourhood operates.
Who Lives in the Cohousing Community?
Tākaka Cohousing attracts a diverse range of residents, from families and couples to individuals of all ages. If you value meaningful connections and a cooperative lifestyle, you’ll find like-minded neighbours here.
Whether you’re seeking a supportive environment for your family or a more social way of living, the cohousing community is welcoming and inclusive. That said, cohousing is not for everyone, and some do not discover this until they are already living it. Disruptive behaviour is not welcome or accepted and there are processes in place for dealing with any conflicts that arise.
How Sustainable is the Development?
Our homes are designed to be healthy for both the planet and the people who live in them. We use non-toxic materials, ensure excellent insulation for reduced energy consumption, and prioritise low-carbon construction methods like hempcrete panels. The shared gardens, creation of composting systems, and use of sustainable, non-toxic materials all contribute to a healthy, regenerative environment.
The neighbourhood is located within walking- or biking-distance to town, the beach, and some schools, reducing the need for car use, or allowing for more car-sharing. Read more about our sustainability initiatives here.
Can I Customise My Home?
While homes at Tākaka Cohousing follow a consistent design to maintain a cohesive look, we offer some options for personalisation. You can select some features that suit your needs and budget, allowing for individuality within the community’s overall aesthetic. We will share more about customisation down the track with those invested in buying homes in the next neighbourhood.
What’s the Social Dynamic Like?
Community interaction at Tākaka Cohousing is encouraged through bump spaces (areas designed for spontaneous interactions), a monthly shared meal, and regular community meetings, fostering social bonds. However, participation is entirely up to you, and that will determine the dynamic of each neighbourhood. Whether you prefer to be actively involved in communal activities or enjoy more solitude, the community is flexible and accommodating of diverse lifestyles. It’s up to you to manage your own energy and decide what level to participate at.
Are There Rules or Expectations for Participation?
There are no strict rules regarding participation. Residents are encouraged to do what feels manageable. The minimum expectation is about 1.5 hours per month for attending community meetings, where decision-making takes place and voices can be heard.
Gathering as a community.
Monthly meetings for all residents creates opportunities for voices to be heard and progress to be made.
Additional involvement in projects like specific working groups, larger working bees, or other community-led initiatives is encouraged but essentially optional, depending on your interests and availability. The more input the community contributes, the less the Body Corporate has to outsource, which helps keep living costs down for everyone.
Is there any flood risk?
Our development is 6-8m above sea level, and about a 10-minute drive to the nearest beach so we’re not at risk of sea level rise. However, following the significant 1983 Tākaka River flood, substantial reinforcements were made to the nearby riverbanks to reduce future risks. Our neighbourhoods are built with these considerations in mind, incorporating 100-year flood modelling to guide neighbourhood design and layout. A bund (a raised earth barrier) surrounds each neighbourhood and is designed to keep floodwaters out, and within each neighbourhood are swales that manage stormwater.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’re intrigued by the idea of cohousing and want to explore whether it’s a good fit for your lifestyle, we’d love to connect with you!
Email us directly: kiaora@takakacohousing.co.nz
Or click the button to learn more about what’s available!
