Welcome to the Argyle Street Housing Cooperative Rules and Policies website. This is intended as the definitve reference for all of our governing documents, policies and procedures. Included also is a generalised version of the Member Tenancy Agreement for quick reference if it's needed.

ASH Co-op Rules

The ASH Co-op rule-book is the co-op's principal governing document which provides a blueprint for the running of the organisation. The rules provide guidance on the basic operation of ASH Coop in relation to the Law. Broadly speaking, these are:

• Our business details as member-led and run co-operative society
• The rights and responsibilities of members
• How we work, meet and make decisions
• How we manage the business
• How we manage our finances and assets
• Our statutory obligations as a business within the law
• other legal details

Co-operative rules, sometimes referred to as the articles of association, are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. You can find the original documents on the FCA website which is where the company is registered: https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/8246

ASH Co-op Policies

Policies are sometimes referred to as the secondary rules of the organisation. They provide more detailed guidance on how the rules should be implemented in practice.

More importantly, policies represent community agreement on the day to day running of ASH Coop. As an expression of community will, policies should be reviewed and updated regularly to correspond with a changing membership.

Policies may often restate, for clarification or instruction, what is already stated in our Rules but they must never contradict them.

Member Tenancy Agreement

All co-op members sign a tenancy agreement at the beginning of their tenancy. The agreement sets out the legal relationship between the member and the co-op. Although ASH Co-op members embody the roles of both tenant and landlord, the tenancy agreement makes the explicit distinction between the the member as a tenant and the organisation to which they pay rent.

The Tenancy Agreement is often a useful document to consult in cases where clarity is required in situations of dispute or complaint.