Hi everyone!

I just have a quick question...

Here in the UK when new houses are built a certain level of housing association houses have to be built.

I would just like to know if this is the same in Canada or if they have the system that we used to have where there were seperate council and private estates?

Thanks for your help!

We do not have council estates.

So the answer is no.

Yes there are what's called Co-op housing estates and subsidised housing. Small groups of homes next to 'regular' housing estates.

But for the most part they are not city run.

The city of Calgary does have some housing that they rent out but not any estates. Certainly nothing you could call council housing.

But even given that, it still doesn't change my answer to the OP's question.

Sorry but I am a little confused?

So there are some Co-Op houses built in private housing areas? And these Co-Op houses are the equivelent of the UK housing association?

Is that right?

Sorry if I am being dumb!!

I have no idea what a UK housing association is like.

Perhaps the two links below will help you.

http://www.chfcanada.coop/eng/pages2...sp?Checked=1,2

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/gucoho/index.cfm

So it's affordable housing?

My question is though, are these Co-Op housing estates integrated with private estates?

Thanks!

I don't understand what you mean by "integrated with." Sorry, I'm not trying to be obtuse. I genuinely don't understand.
x

We don't have council estates so I would assume the answer to your question is yes.

In short as far I know all what I think you call estates are private.

I think what the OP is asking is are these co-op housing projects built within an area like say Ranchlands in the NW or Cranston in the South of Calgary.

Hi Judy

Here in the UK back in the day we had seperate council housing areas and seperate private housing areas.

Now days whenever a new housing development is built a certain number of council houses have to be built. Therefore intergrating them with the privately owned houses.

In my original question I was just trying to establish if things worked the same way in Canada.

It's just that my Finacee and I paid a premium to live in a good area and because of this housing system they have in the UK the type of people that are living in the council houses tend to be the reason that our area is going downhill. Please don't think I am being a snob as I am not like that at all it's just that it is a concern for when we move to Canada. Hoping that things are different!

Thanks!!

Thanks for the clarification.
x

Thanks for this clarification also.

I don't think you have to worry about that in Canada.

Returning to the topic of housing co-operatives specifically, they are designed to provide affordable housing, but they are not intended for down and out people. I once made enquiries about a co-operative housing complex in Sunnyside in Calgary, and found that prospective buyers had to meet a certain minimum income threshold. The threshold was such that an indigent person could never have qualified. Applicants also had to go through an interview process, reference checks, criminal checks, and credit checks.

Over the years, I've known a couple of people who have lived in co-operative housing complexes. They had to contribute a certain number of hours of labour a month towards the maintenance of the complex. For example, they could take turns mowing the lawns in the common areas, they could take turns shovelling the snow off the common pathways, they could carry out bookkeeping duties for the complex, etc. From time to time, the residents who wanted to do so could participate in social events, such as summer barbecues, children's Halloween parties, and the like.

There are such long waiting lists that housing co-operatives can afford to be picky about whom they let in. Besides that, from what I saw, the co-operative nature of the set up attracted people who cared about their community, who were willing to pitch in, and so on.

So I personally think that housing co-operatives add to, rather than detract from, the neighbourhoods in which they are nested.

But, really, it's a moot point. There are so few of them that they're just a drop in the bucket. Calgary, for example, has five of them -- in a city of just over a million people. Frankly, they don't make a dent.

Yes, Canadian cities do have districts that are more desirable and less desirable. In Calgary, for example, it's widely believed that the northwest, southwest and far southeast quadrants are good places to live, while the northeast and close-in southeast quadrants are to be avoided. If you're interested in any other Canadian city, just ask on the forum, and people will tell you the equivalent information for their city.

Besides that, I strongly recommend that people visit a neighbourhood into which they're considering buying at a couple of different times of day. If a real estate salesperson takes you to a house during the day, for example, return there on your own in the evening. Walk around. Within minutes you'll be able to pick up on the vibe of the area. Some areas have neatly tended yards (gardens), young children in the playgrounds, slightly older children participating in sports activities on local sports fields, people out walking their dogs. Other neighbourhoods have lawns that look as if they haven't seen a lawn mower in weeks, broken screen doors, cars resting on blocks. I mean you don't have to be a rocket scientist to pick up on some of this stuff. The major points are really obvious.

Another thing to consider doing is renting for a year or so when you first arrive. During that time you'll get to know your destination city a lot better and will be in a much better position to select the neighbourhood that would be the best fit for you.

Hope that helps.
x

Thanks for your reply Judy, very through!!

I think that's so good that if you are living in one of these affordable housing estates that you have to contribute in some way.

Here in the UK you get given a place to live if you have just been let out of jail or if you are single and pregnant! You don't have to pay a penny if your not working. All paid by the tax payer! Boy have we got it wrong!! Thats just one reason why we want out of this place!!

There are no types of places like that in Canada then? What happens if your homeless? How do the govenment help? You can't just sit around and get free money and a place to live in Canada?

Thanks again!!

I think it's worth pointing out that Canada is a pointless term when discussing such issues. Every Province, indeed every municipality in some Provinces, are different with respect to affordable housing policies.

Basically, though, there's not enough anywhere.