Frequently Asked Questions

What is a co-op?

We own it, and we run it, baby! That's right. We have no landlord. Our co-op is an intentional society in which we freely associate and share labor and adhere to cooperative principles. It is a democratic organization in which every member gets a voice in how the house is run. In fact, our house is consensus-based, which means that for every decision we face, we have to find a solution that every member can feel comfortable with.

What is the cost?

Our rooms range from $385 - $490 per month (depending on the size of the room), plus $135 per month for food. That amount includes water, gas and electricity.

Is there an initial deposit?

The deposit is $500, $125 of which is non-refundable. The non-refundable portion goes into general house improvements and NASCO membership fees. The $375 refundable portion will be returned to you when you move out. In the unlikely event that you have damaged house property or owe money or labor to the house, the cost of repair or debt will be deducted from your deposit before the remainder is returned to you.

What is the length of the lease?

We prefer that members expect to stay at Whitehall at least a year. Whitehall has a month-to-month contract, therefore no long-term lease is required. However, you are required to give 30 days notice before vacating the tenancy. As well, preference will be given to applicants who intend to stay at Whitehall for an extended period of time.

Are single rooms available?

All of our rooms are for single occupancy.

What is the double room policy?

Due to size constraints, double occupancy of rooms is available ONLY on the first floor. Each occupant of each room must go through the new member process, and both must pay deposits. The monthly rent for the room will increase by $50 while it is double occupancy to adjust for the increased use of utilities and shared resources.

Is meat allowed in the house?

Though Whitehall members range from vegans to meat eaters, the household is vegetarian. This means that we use our house funds to purchase vegetarian food and all food cooked in the house is vegetarian. It is ok to store personal restaurant leftovers with meat in them in the fridge and it is okay to cook and eat meat outside on the deck or porch.

Can members have cats/dogs?

Whitehall continues to maintain a "no furry pet policy."  Though exceptions have been made for short lengths at the house's discretion, please do not expect to move in with your beloved animal.

Is there air conditioning and heat?

Members have the option of having a window-unit air conditioners in their rooms and paying a $20 utilities charge. There is a central attic fan that can get a breeze flowing, and we have a heater for the common rooms. Members may buy space heaters for their rooms. As a house, we are committed to being friendly to the environment and to our shared utilities expenses by using A/C and heaters sparingly.

What is the age range at Whitehall? What do people do?

Right now our age range is from 21 to 64, with 27 being the median age. We have a minority who are currently in school (2 grad school, 1 undergrad). We are an arborist, a scientist, a web developer, a writer, a lawyer, a teacher, a massage therapist, and students... that may or may not be exactly up to date, and it's definitely not complete. Whitehall members have an enormous variety of interests.

Is there parking?

No, cars are not very convenient in the West Campus neighborhood where we are located. House members who drive cars either rent spots from neighbors or compete with UT students for spots on the street. The neighborhood may switch its chaotic parking arrangement, but the new policy is still being debated.

I see that members are expected to visit before beginning the application process. I am planning to move to Austin, but I cannot visit beforehand. Can I still apply from a distance?

If you have cooperative living experience and references from former co-op housemates, there is a possibility for you to apply at a distance. If you do not have those references, it's unlikely that you can apply without visiting the house in person.

Can I see a sample bio?

Below is a bio that one of our current members submitted when he was applying. This is not a template – other bios have been poems, bullet points, and other formats. Here it is:

Hi Whitehall,

My name is Will Slade. I lived in Royal House Coop for two years (02-04) and at House of Commons for a summer (04); I was trustee at Royal for some of that time, labor officer at HoC, and I was a facilities coordinator for ICC for a year. I think those experiences inform the ways in which I think about co-ops, and they reinforced my interest and skills in consensus building. That said, my experience cooking, cleaning, and gardening is probably more relevant to the labor that I would prefer at Whitehall if I am accepted. I admit that my large-group cooking skills are rusty, though. I value living in community with people; the interactions and collaboration that can happen in cooperative living is very exciting to me.

After moving out of the Austin Coops, I moved to Loja, Ecuador where I taught English for a year, and since then I have been in Denton, Texas where I have taught ESL at a high school. I will be starting a master's program in foreign language education at UT in the fall. I am fluent in Spanish and I have some ability in French. Learning from other cultures and interacting with people different from myself are some of my passions.

Regarding diet, I eat mostly vegetarian food; I eat fish and sea food but no land animals. I enjoy sharing vegetarian meals on a regular basis.

I will send references soon -- I want to get their permission before doing so.

Thanks, and I look forward to getting to know you all.

Will
Phone: XXX.XXX.XXXX
Email: ------@----.com