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                 Frequently Asked

                        Questions

 

 

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How will our NewCoh community be realised?

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The founders of NewCoh have agreed to use a model that involves working with a developer who will buy land that suits our needs and  work with us to design and build our homes and joint facilities. Future residents of NewCoh would buy ‘off the plan’ from the developer.

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What is the benefit for a developer to do this?

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In this model, NewCoh is a buyers group and the developer has  ready made sales without any marketing. Cohousing has grown in popularity around the world. The experience of working with this model may provide further work for the developer with other groups who are planning cohousing communities.

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What is the benefit for us to do it this way?

We get the cohousing development we want to live in without needing to have the substantial resources required to buy and develop the property. We take fewer risks.

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Will each residence be privately owned? 

 

 Every residence in NewCoh will be privately owned under either a Strata or Community title. We are seeking legal advice on the optimum ownership model for us. Owners will also jointly share ownership of shared space and facilities (such as a common house, workshop etc) to which all residents will have access.  

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What is the time frame for the community to be ready to buy into?

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NewCoh has had ongoing contact with a number of developers who have expressed interest in our model. The first step is to come to agreement with a developer on land that is in our desired Newcastle suburbs, reasonably close to the city and to services and transport. Once this is purchased, the design and construction phase will be about 3 years.

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Will I have any say about the design and inclusions of the complex?  

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NewCoh will host workshops for interested members who are involved at the planning stage to determine key aspects of the design and inclusions of the complex, particularly relating to shared facilities. A NewCoh representative will then brief the architect used by the developer on these agreed preferences.

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Will my residence have private outdoor space? 

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Each residence will have its own private outdoor space. 

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When will I have to put $ in and how much? 

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 We’ll be able to advise the amount that needs to be paid to secure a place in NewCoh once the process of designing the complex is further along.  As we are working with a developer, the cost will be in line with market prices for apartments in the area. NewCoh will be asking the developer to agree to a deposit of 5% of the cost of the residence to buy off the plan, once the design is agreed to. A further 5 % may be paid before construction begins. The deposit would be made on signing of a contract that commits the developer to providing the resident that is described in the contract. The deposit money will go into a trust account – not to the developer. 

 

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What do I need to do to be eligible for a residence? 

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Residences will only be available to NewCoh Members. We will need to gauge the amount of interest and the ability to pay an initial buy-in amount to determine whether an additional balloting system will be necessary.  

 

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What sort of residences will be available?  

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There will be a range of residences available, from studio to 3-bedroom apartments – and possibly a few townhouses, depending on the site.

 

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Where will I park my car? My bicycle? 

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Parking for cars will be on the outside edges of the complex. This ensures that the common areas are child-friendly and will afford people the opportunity of neighbourly interaction.  Some parking spaces may be able to be used as undercover workshop spaces or rainy-day spots for activities. We may also be able to facilitate car sharing for those who are interested and, of course, will ensure there are secure places for bicycle parking. 

 

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Will there be any restrictions on the future sale of my residence? 

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As you will have a separate title to your home, you will be able to sell your home to anyone who feels they are happy to live with us and understands our policies and guidelines.  Those of us who live here will help you to introduce any prospective buyers so they understand the benefits of collaborative living and the guidelines we have developed for harmonious and supportive living in NewCoh. 

 

 

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 Will there be ongoing rates, fees, etc? 

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Once we get further along in our planning, we should have an idea of ongoing levies/fees that our residents will need to pay. In general, we aim to be as self-managed as possible to reduce the costs involved. 

 

 

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Can I keep a pet? 

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Yes!  NewCoh has a pet policy. It is included in our Members Handbook  .

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How will decisions be made by residents?

 

The link to our Members Handbook will also take you to an outline of our Decision-Making Process. This policy will allow all members to have a say in decisions that affect them. All residents can be involved in meetings so that everyone living with us can play an active role in managing our community. 

 

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What if people don’t get along? 

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NewCoh has developed Communication Guidelines that we hope will help people to resolve issues before they turn into anything major. We have also developed guidelines for Conflict Resolution which may be helpful if issues arise.Both in Members Handbook. We realise that we won’t agree with everything others do, but want to use the principle of tolerance and support in our dealings with other members and the world in general, as this makes for a happier life. Aspirational? Yes we are! 

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