Membership of a co-operative society should be voluntary and available without artificial restriction or any social, political or religious discrimination to all persons who can make use of its services and are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.  Membership in a housing co-operative should be open to those who apply in good faith and are aware of the benefits and responsibilities. While it is important for members to be compatible, racial and other forms of discrimination must be ruled out. Housing co-operatives have successfully integrated persons with a wide range of incomes and social backgrounds.

Co-operative societies are democratic organizations. Their affairs should be administered by persons elected or appointed in a manner agreed by the members and accountable to them. Members of primary societies should enjoy equal rights of voting (one member, one vote) and participation in decisions affecting their societies. In other than primary societies, the administration should be conducted on a democratic basis in a suitable form. Housing co-operatives are primary societies and are based on the principle of one member, one vote.  In housing co-operatives, members are able to make decisions on a wide range of issues, such as maintenance and housing charges, directly, in their members’ meetings, and indirectly through their elected representatives. Other than primary societies include second level organizations such as the Co-op Housing Federation and the Co-op Housing Foundation.

All members contribute fairly to their co-ops which they own in common. Surpluses are held for the future and used to improve the co-op’s services.

All agreements the co-op signs with outside organizations or governments should leave the members in control of the co-op.

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

All co-operative organizations, in order to best serve the interests of their members and their communities, should actively co-operate in every practical way with other co-operatives at local, national and international levels. Non-profit co-operative housing projects should recognize that they are part of a larger co-operative housing movement. By organizing and planning with other housing co-operatives and other co-operatives such as credit unions, consumer and daycare co-ops, members can benefit from the many possibilities of co-operation. Where other types of co-ops provide services necessary to housing co-operatives, such as insurance or banking, housing co-operatives should attempt to deal with those organizations rather than private sector institutions.

While focusing on member needs, co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies by their members.