Effective Governance for BC Housing Co-ops — A Resource Manual
What is the Effective Governance Manual?
The Effective Governance Manual will help non-profit housing co-operatives
in British Columbia understand and comply with
the Co-op Act and bring their Rules and other governing documents up to date.Almost
all housing co-ops in BC have already used the
"Model Rules and Occupancy
Agreement"
to bring their Rules up to date.
CHF BC mailed a copy of
Effective Governance for BC Housing Co-ops —
Volume One to all 260 non-profit housing
co-ops in the province in November of 2002.
The Manual is made up of four sections, available here in PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader 5.0 to download them — please click here to download this free program. (CHF BC members can access other file formats from the 'Effective Governance' folder in the member section of this website):
Need help?
For more information contact
info@chf.bc.ca.
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Guide to the Co-op Act
The Guide to the Co-op Act will help you use and understand the
Co-operative Association Act (the Co-op Act). It deals with how the Co-op Act applies to non-profit housing co-ops. The Guide will help with everything from the first incorporation of your housing co-op, to ongoing business, filing, membership, shares, directors, meetings, elections and voting.
Download the Guide to the Co-op Act
[PDF, 321k]
Model Rules and Occupancy Agreement
The
Model Rules and Occupancy Agreement (the
Model Rules) is available as two PDF files. The table of contents is hot-linked to pages inside the
Model Rules. Click on the page number to take you to the page.
Model Rules
The
Model Rules will help you update your
co-op’s Rules.
If you have not already done so. Use the
Model Rules with the
Guide to the Model Rules. When the
Model Rules point to an option, you can consult the
Guide for an explanation and other wording. Lawyers and others who work with housing
co-ops all the time helped develop the Model. The Registrar of Companies, who is responsible for the administration of the
Co-op Act, has already approved the
Model Rules.
Occupancy Agreement
The
Occupancy Agreement is the agreement between the
co-op and each member governing the terms on which members occupy units in the
co-op. In the Model, the
Occupancy Agreement is a Schedule to the Rules and forms part of the Rules. Consult the
Guide to the Model Rules for an explanation of the options in the
Occupancy Agreement.
Download the Model Rules [200kb]
Download the Occupancy Agreement [105kb]
Guide to the Model Rules
The Guide to the Model Rules is
available as a single PDF file. The table of contents is hot-linked to pages inside the Guide.
The Guide to the Model Rules will help you use CHF BC’s Model Rules to bring your co-op’s Rules up to date. Co-ops that have not changed their Rules since January 31, 2001 will need to use the Model Rules to make sure they comply with BC’s Cooperative Association Act (the Co-op Act). The Guide covers:
- How to use this guide
- Background on the Co-op Act
- Updating your co-op’s Rules
- Step-by-step procedure
- Using the options
- Options for your Model Rules
- Options worksheet — a tool to record your choices
- The Model Rules and Co-op Act: A reference table
Download the Guide to the Model Rules [650kb]
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Resources
Resources include sample resolutions, forms and letters that co-ops can use throughout the process of updating their Rules.
- Letter to the Registrar requesting certified true copy of registered Rules
- Special Resolution (to be passed at general meeting)
- Notice of General Meeting
- Form 6 Special Resolution (for filing with the Registrar)
- Acknowledgement of Receipt of Rules and Occupancy Agreement
Download Resources [158kb]
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Need help?
You may decide that you need help at any stage of the process of updating your Rules. It is better to ask for help than to make an expensive mistake.
Help is available from:
CHF BC: The Federation offers general advice, workshops and co-op consultations on the Co-op Act, Model Rules and other co-op issues. Call us at 604.879.5111 (1.866.879.5111) in Vancouver and 250.384.9444 in Victoria, explore our website or email us at info@chf.bc.ca.
Your management company: Ask your co-ordinator or management company for help in making the right decisions about your new Rules.
Your co-op’s lawyer: Your lawyer can provide any legal explanations you need about the Model Rules. You should also ask your lawyer about any changes you want to make to the Model. Neither the Federation nor your management company can give you legal advice.
Corporate Registry: For a fee of $100, the
Corporate Registry (previously called the
Registrar for Companies) will look at your draft Rules before you take them to the members for a vote and tell you if they will be accepted. You do not need to take this step if you are using the Model Rules without changes.
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