Membership Policy

Information on how to become a member and the Membership Policy

Cornwall Rural Housing Association Limited

Membership Policy

1. Introduction

1.1 Cornwall Rural Housing Association Ltd (CRHA) is a charitable housing association, a Registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and a Registered Provider with the Regulator of Social Housing.

1.2 CRHA was set up in 1985 to:

"...carry on for the benefit of the community the business of providing and managing housing and providing assistance to help house people…"

1.3 CRHA is committed to achieving as wide a shareholding membership as possible in order to enhance its accountability to the local community.

1.4 The Association is controlled by a Board of Management which is drawn from and elected by the shareholding members.

2. Membership criteria

  • Any tenant of the Association.

(Any tenant who is in arrears with their rent or is otherwise in breach of their Tenancy Agreement is not eligible to become a member of the Association.)

  • Any individual over the age of 18 who can demonstrate a commitment to increasing the supply of affordable rented housing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

3. Role of Membership

3.1 A member is entitled to stand for election to the Association Board of Management and also to vote in those elections.

3.2 Members will receive invitations to all CRHA official functions, such as scheme openings and the Annual General Meeting.

3.3 CRHA would hope that members take the opportunity to have a say in how the Association is run and promote its work whenever and wherever they can.

4. Cost of Membership

4.1 To become a member a one pound share in the Association must be purchased.

5. How to apply for Membership

5.1 Applications for membership should be made in writing to the Association’s registered office and be accompanied by the one pound required to purchase the share.

5.2 Every application will be considered by the Board at the next available meeting.

5.3 If the application is approved the applicant will be issued with a share.

5.4 If the application is not approved the applicant will be informed and the money returned.

6. Review

6.1 This policy will be reviewed every three years or as required.