Comparison among communities (kinds and structures of community)

Text based in “Living in communities” Redfield´s dossier (found and photocopied in Braziers Park). The terms are used in Great Britain, so some of them perhaps aren´t valid in other territories, although they are good examples of the different models in the complex world of intentional communities.

There are many different kinds of legal and financial set-ups for a community. In the next description, there are examples related to three communities of this website: Canon Frome Court, Old Hall and Redfield.


1. Privacy vs. communality

a. Living group
• Separate: self-contained units, share some facilities
• Communal: single household or several living groups, sharing all facilities, eating together; Redfield, Old Hall

b. Ownership
• Private: occupant buys and sells own unit, mortgageable units; Canon Frome
• Collective (buy-in): buy lease on particular unit, value of stake increases in line with housing market; Old Hall
• Collective: no financial stake, tenancy not tied to particular unit; Redfield

c. Finances
• Separate: maintenance contributions only; Canon Frome
• Mostly separate: maintenance contributions, specific collective projects
• Income pooling: substantial proportion of income pooled and managed as general fund; Redfield
• Income sharing: all income pooled, usually from jointly owned/run enterprise


2. Ownership options

a. Private Ownership
• No more than 4 legal owners (England and Wales). No himit in Scotland
• Problems ¡f ‘owners’ leave — no simple way to change names on deed
• ‘Owners’ may be breaking terms of mortgage by ‘sub-letting’
• Legal owners could seIl if they want to — no protection for other members
• Legal owners have ah the responsibility

b. Partnership
• Two or more people — name of partnership appears on titie deeds
• Can write own rules and objectives
• In England and Wales, property owned by partners as ¡ndividuals, and taxed as individuals
• In Scotland, partnership can own property in its own right, stihl taxed as individuals
• Four person limit in England and Wales

c. Trust
• Trustees own property on behalf of beneficiaries
• Trust deed is private document and doesn’t have to be registered anywhere
• Trustees actions are governed by Trustees Acts
• No himit to the number of owners, but (in England and Wales) only 4 names on title deeds
• lf a trustee leaves, the deeds have to be amended, and the mortgage rearranged

d. Company
• Private limited company — registered at Companies House
• Articles and Memorandum of Association registered with Registrar of Companies
• Don’t get the tax beneflts of other frameworks
• Unhikely to get a mortgage

e. Charity
• In England and Wales — registered with Charity Commission
• In Scotland — no registration, but draft deed approved by Inspector of Taxes
• A company or trust can be a charity, but not a co-op
• Eligible for various grants and gifts, and tax breaks
• Has to promote education, relief of poverty, religion, or benefit the wider community
• Findhorn is a charity

f. Housing Co-ops
• Usually registered with Registrar of Friendly Societies, under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (along with most trade unions, housing associations, building societies and other clubs and associations)
• Profits not distributed to owners of capital (no dividends on shares, interest on loans restricted by registrar)
• Incorporated body (pseudo-individual — can borrow money etc.)
• Limited Iiability, like private companies
• Minimum of 4 members
• One member one vote — not based on number of shares held, like private companies
• Around £250 to register — standard rules
• Non-profit
• Housing co-op can only make money by providing housing for its members
• Exempt from corporation tax, except for non-housing income (eg interest on deposit accounts)

Miércoles, 24 de enero de 2007
Por: s_d_xira | Englands | Comentarios (0) | Referencias (0) | 91 Lecturas