MOBA

It all started in October 2017 when representatives of what are to become MOBA members came to Berlin for the European Collaborative Housing Hub. Having worked on alternatives to the harmful, profit-driven housing and spatial practices in local contexts for years, we instantly recognised in each others’ trajectories region-specific obstacles – as well as shared hopes and a collective path forward through a regional alliance.

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MEMBERS

MOBA members work locally to re-introduce and re-conceptualise the cooperative rental model as a long-term and stable solution for households that cannot afford to or do not want to buy their own property. Bringing together expertise in architecture, social analysis, project management, community finance and community building, MOBA aggregates the experience and knowledge of its members to catalyse breakthroughs. Our full members are:

Zadruga otvorena arhitektura (Cooperative Open Architecture Zagreb, Croatia)

Architectural cooperative working as a link between citizens and local authorities in implementing cooperative housing in Croatia to systemically address the financialisation of housing and the resulting crisis. ZOA researches, develops and promotes environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable architecture and spatial development.

Pametnija zgrada (Smarter building, Belgrade, Serbia)

Housing cooperative building on long-standing but neglected traditions of cooperative housing and self-building in Serbia. Grew out of the collective work of Ko Gradi Grad (Who Builds the City) – a bottom-up platform working on citizen-led housing through a combination of experimental practice, direct action, and advocacy. Closely linked to the pioneering energy cooperative Elektropionir.

Alliance for Collaborative Real Estate Development (Budapest, Hungary)

Professional organisation creating physical spaces that meet the needs of communities through affordability, democratic control, energy efficiency, circularity, and collective management. Property managers of the Kazán Community House, a collectively owned building and energy community. 

Zugló Collective House Association (Budapest, Hungary)

Association managing a house in Budapest, established by its residents. Grew out of Rákóczi Kollektíva, a broader group that worked to establish the first collectively owned, rental-based housing co-operative in Hungary.

Sdílené domy (Shared Houses, Czechia)

A growing network of cooperative housing projects. Buys houses out of the real estate market and works with future residents to turn them into permanently affordable rental and community housing. Inspired by the Mietshäusersyndikat, their structure serves as a permanent safeguard against privatisation.

První vlaštovka (First Swallow, Prague, Czechia)

Social cooperative functioning as a rental housing cooperative and the initial project of Sdílené domy. Currently working on reconstructing a building in Prague for the benefit of its members and the neighbourhood.

Zadrugator (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Cooperative created by an interdisciplinary group of students and young professionals looking for alternative approaches to housing supply beyond the traps of private ownership and profit-making rental. Works to develop cooperative, rental-based solutions in Slovenia through locality-specific project proposals, research and advocacy since its establishment in 2016.

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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

MOBA’s associate members have no voting rights but closely support our work through partnerships, know-how and financial support, participation in working groups and regular meetings. All of us are part of the European and global community-led housing movement. Our associate members are:

Cooperative for Ethical financing (Croatia) is one of the founding members of MOBA and the largest cooperative in Croatia building alternatives to harmful economic practices for over a decade. Unites private individuals, enterprises, municipalities and non-governmental organizations who came together for a common goal of establishing a sustainable and just financial institution – the European Ethical Bank.

World Habitat (UK) is an independent charity working internationally to help bring the best housing to those who need it most. World Habitat acts as a catalyst for change by strengthening innovative housing solutions, among them community-led housing, supporting them to scale up to help more people facing housing injustice.

urbaMonde is an association committed to sustainable cities produced by and for residents through the practice of participatory housing. Works locally and internationally, providing technical support, resources and a network to community-led housing groups to support them in becoming actors in the transformation of urban space understood in the sense of the common good.

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GOVERNANCE

MOBA is managed by its full cooperant members. The bodies of MOBA are: the assembly, the management board, and the supervisory board. MOBA seeks consensus in decision-making, and if that is not possible, decisions are made by a majority vote of the present members of the body, unless otherwise regulated by specific provisions of the Statutes. The working language of MOBA is English and Croatian (for legal purposes). MOBA’s structure consists of:

Assembly
The Assembly is MOBA’s highest decision-making body, bringing together all full cooperant members, each with one vote. It decides on all major matters such as changes to the statutes, annual reports and finances, budget and business planning, and the appointment or removal of board members, validation and termination of membership. As a non-profit European Cooperative Society (SCE), MOBA convenes the Assembly at least twice a year and reinvests all surplus into its infrastructure

Management Board
The Management Board steers MOBA’s day-to-day activities between assemblies, in line with the statutes. It prepares work plans, budgets, and reports, oversees finances, and proposes how surpluses or losses are handled. Board members serve three-year terms, renewable up to two times, and MOBA strives for a board representing three different countries. The Board meets biweekly with working group coordinators and the Cooperative Coordinator.

Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board provides oversight, monitors MOBA’s operations, and supports accountability. It reports directly to the Assembly and consists of at least three members, including a Chair appointed by the Assembly. Members serve three-year terms, renewable for up to two consecutive terms.

Working Groups
MOBA’s work is driven by four permanent working groups: Accelerator, Fundraising, Communications, and Advocacy. Each group operates within its domain, reports to the Management Board, and is coordinated by its coordinator. Working group coordinators meet biweekly with the Board and the Coordinator to stay aligned and mutually catalysing.

Cooperative Coordinator
The Cooperative Coordinator keeps MOBA running smoothly. They support collaboration across the cooperative, oversee administrative and financial operations, coordinate daily work, and manage internal and external communication. By connecting members, boards, working groups, and partners, the Coordinator helps ensure transparency, shared responsibility through collective decision-making, and a culture of authentic cooperation.

MOBA’s Statutes can be found at the following link.

ALLIANCES

We are part of:
• European Alliance for Collaborative Housing
• CoHabitat Network

We work with & are supported by:
• Cooperative for Ethical Financing
• World Habitat
• Urbamonde
• Catalyst Collective
• European Commission: Interreg Danube Region & Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV)