MOBA housing model

The MOBA model puts affordability of housing first, while taking away the pressure from individuals in resolving their housing condition. It is centered around a cooperative of inhabitants that collectively develops, finances, maintains and operates a multi-apartment building. Because it controls the entire trajectory (and does not need to make profit), the resulting apartments are much more affordable for the inhabitants.

The cooperative owns the real-estate as well as takes on the necessary loans to pay for its construction. Participating households or individuals (the members of the cooperative) thus collectively own their building. And keep it there, because individual members or households cannot speculate with their apartment – in that way it is not just a safe and affordable option for the first generation, but for many generation of its inhabitants to come.

As an inhabitant of a MOBA apartment, you pay a one-time entry fee (deposit) and a monthly contribution (“rent”) that covers both the costs of the apartment as well as a predetermined amount for the utility costs (water, electricity, etc.) – so you always know what you are up to.

In short:

  • collective ownership: real estate is bought or constructed and owned by the cooperative
  • credit is assumed by the cooperative, thus handling risks in a more robust way
  • cooperative membership gives access to stable long term use of a unit
  • members contribute financially (on a monthly basis) and through participation (investment)
  • affordable monthly costs ensures that all units are sustainably affordable for their inhabitants

MOBA is based on experience from other recent co-operative housing developments: so while it is new to South-Eastern and Central-Eastern Europe, it has been already tested elsewhere in Europe.