Rules for general assemblies in housing cooperatives

Rules for general assemblies in housing cooperatives are set by housing cooperative law and the cooperative’s own bylaws

There are several rules for general assemblies in housing cooperatives that the cooperative’s board is responsible for following.

Housing cooperatives are subject to housing cooperative law, which sets requirements for matters such as property valuation of the cooperative’s real estate and the calculation of prices for individual cooperative apartments. Additionally, the law establishes rules regarding ownership transfers.

Beyond the legal framework, housing cooperatives also have their own bylaws, which may include additional requirements and provisions for conducting the general assembly. These bylaws can typically be found on the cooperative’s website.

Rules for general assemblies in housing cooperatives as defined by law

Only a few aspects of general assemblies in housing cooperatives are strictly regulated by law. Most rules are typically determined by the cooperative’s own bylaws. However, if there is a proposal to sell the property or dissolve the cooperative, the law may impose specific requirements on how the general assembly should be conducted.

Other rules, such as meeting notices, deadlines, agendas, and voting procedures, are generally established in the cooperative’s bylaws.

Rules for general assemblies in housing cooperatives as defined by the cooperative’s bylaws

As mentioned, most rules for general assemblies in housing cooperatives are determined by the cooperative’s own bylaws. These typically cover rules related to meeting notices, deadlines, agenda structure, meeting procedures, participation requirements, voting rights, and meeting minutes.

Meeting notice

There are rules regarding how and when meeting notices for general assemblies in housing cooperatives must be sent out. These include deadlines for notification and the method of communication, all of which are determined by the cooperative’s bylaws.

Typically, the bylaws state that meeting notices must be sent between 2 to 6 weeks before the meeting, and that notifications must be sent in writing, either by letter or email. The meeting notice will usually include the agenda so that residents have the opportunity to prepare for the meeting.

Agenda

In most housing cooperatives, there are rules regarding what must be included in the agenda for the general assembly. There may be regulations on which topics must be discussed and reviewed, such as the cooperative’s finances and financial reports.

Meeting procedures

There are also rules regarding how the general assembly is conducted. These may include how frequently general assemblies should be held, where they should take place, who is allowed to participate, and whether there is a minimum attendance requirement before the meeting can be held.

Voting rights

Almost all housing cooperatives have specific rules regarding voting rights at general assemblies. These may outline whether a simple majority or a qualified majority is required for decisions to pass.

There are also often rules specifying the minimum number of attendees required before decisions can be legally made.

Meeting minutes

When a housing cooperative holds a general assembly, there are often rules requiring that minutes of the meeting be recorded. There may also be rules regarding how and when these minutes must be distributed to residents. (A digital document archive can be a useful tool in this regard.)

It is important to note that additional or different rules may apply to general assemblies depending on the specific bylaws of each cooperative. The points mentioned above are general examples of areas that are typically regulated.

To ensure compliance, you can always refer to your cooperative’s bylaws, which may be available on the community’s website.