local authority:   London Borough of Lewisham

Lewisham Family Co-operative Association has 42 individual properties and one shared property, mainly Victorian, situated in the Catford and Forest Hill area of south east London. There are 18 houses (a mixture of two, three and four bed), and 24 flats/maisonettes (ranging from one to four bed). The remaining five tenancies are rooms in a shared house.

The Co-operative started as a self-help short life group, which then began to acquire permanent properties. It registered under its current name in 1976. The Co-operative’s committee meet monthly and are involved in most aspects of its management.

The properties are spread across an area of approximately two square miles. Some are very close to the centre of Catford with its shopping and leisure facilities, and others are closer to the centre of Forest Hill. Both areas have over ground stations and there are plenty of local bus routes. A major programme of upgrading its properties has taken place and as a result all properties now have central heating and double glazing. Only the rooms in the shared house have a service charge, this covers all the utility bills, furniture to the communal areas of the house and provision of kitchen equipment.

Lewisham Family Co-operative Association has contractual tenancies, after internal transfers 50% of vacancies are given to Lewisham Council for nominations from their housing register, the remaining 50% are allocated via the Co-operative’s own waiting list.