Irish House is a cooperative cohousing community located in a beautiful 120-year-old Victorian home in South Boston, VA. With a culture rooted in inclusiveness and a strong sense of community, we strive to create a supportive and enriching living environment for all members, both within the house and in the broader SoBo community. Our goal is to be expansive and welcoming, actively participating in shared activities in the house and taking part in local events.
The house features 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a total of 13 rooms. Renovations are ongoing, focusing on thoughtfully restoring our historic home to preserve its charm while ensuring comfort. Currently, renovations are happening in phases, starting with floors and windows, and have been planned to minimize disruption to residents. While some areas remain untouched for now, all work is coordinated in advance to ensure there are no unexpected impacts on personal privacy or comfort.
Irish House currently has 1 full-time resident and 1 part-time resident, with plans to grow to between 3 and 5 full-time members living on the property. The property includes a second plot of land that can accommodate a small bus, van, RV, or tiny home with proper planning. We are also a sister community space to Collective Spaces, a 204-acre project located just 15 minutes away that is currently in development.
Our community is inclusive, queer-friendly, and welcoming of diversity, though we recognize the limitations of our size and the house’s layout. The SoBo community itself is diverse and tends to be more progressive compared to other nearby rural areas. We actively participate in the vibrant local scene, which includes board game nights, trivia events, art gallery openings, and various social and cultural gatherings throughout the year.
Community Living and Daily Life
At Irish House, we enjoy a shared lifestyle where members can join in communal activities like cooking and dining together, or simply relaxing in shared spaces like our three spacious porches, which are perfect for enjoying the weather. While participation in these activities is encouraged, nothing is mandatory or rigidly scheduled—it’s about finding balance and joy in each other’s company. Chores and household responsibilities are shared among members, and everyone contributes in a way that suits them, including supporting ongoing renovation efforts. A stable income or savings is necessary to cover each member’s share of rent and costs, though there are no upfront buy-in costs to join our community.
Living arrangements are designed to provide both privacy and communal interaction. Each bedroom is furnished, comes with a closet, and has a lockable door, ensuring everyone has a comfortable personal space. Renovations will involve minimal disruption to personal areas, and residents will always be kept informed in advance regarding any necessary work.
Governance and Shared Investment
Irish House operates with a flat governance structure, inspired by Sociocracy, and holds bi-weekly meetings to discuss house matters, check in with each other, and ensure the continued smooth running of our shared home. We place a strong emphasis on cultivating a sense of mutual ownership, rather than fostering a “tenant vs. landlord” mindset. Our equity-sharing model allows residents who stay for a year or more to have their rent retroactively converted into a capital investment. In the event that Irish House is sold, the profits will be divided according to each member’s percentage of total capital invested, ensuring that all equity stakeholders are fairly compensated.
Future Vision
Our future plans include growing to a stable community size, continuing renovations in a thoughtful way, and enhancing the property’s natural beauty through extensive gardening. We see Irish House as a dynamic space that is ever-evolving, where members can feel at home and contribute to building something meaningful together. By being a sister community to Collective Spaces, we’re excited to explore opportunities for collaboration and shared initiatives across both properties, nurturing a broader sense of community.
Inclusion and Accessibility
We are a community that values openness, inclusivity, and connection, welcoming people of all backgrounds and walks of life. However, due to the ongoing renovations, numerous stairs, and certain physical limitations of the property, Irish House is currently not accessible for individuals with mobility challenges. In addition, while we adore pets, the property is not yet ready to accommodate young children or most animals safely.
If you’re seeking a place where you can feel part of a supportive, engaged community while still having your own space, Irish House may be the perfect fit for you. We’re excited to connect with like-minded individuals who want to share in the journey of creating something special together.
Our mission is to live ethically and actively, supporting inclusivity, creativity, and meaningful engagement within our communities.
Our mission is to live ethically and actively, supporting inclusivity, creativity, and meaningful engagement within our communities.
Membership at Irish House involves renting a room in our shared home. As a small cohousing community, we conduct an in-depth interview with all applicants to ensure a good mutual fit and to understand each individual’s needs and expectations.
Once approved, new members move in and begin a 3-month trial period. During the initial month, there is a check-in meeting to evaluate how the integration is going, discuss any needs, and address any adjustments for both the new member and the community. Throughout this period, new members participate in house meetings, helping them become familiar with the community’s operations. However, they do not yet have governance rights until the end of the trial period, pending approval from existing members.
Governance rights allow members to be involved in decisions that directly impact the house and other members through our sociocratic process meetings. Decisions affecting day-to-day life, such as chores and general living arrangements, are made collectively by all members, regardless of governance status.
If the 3-month trial period ends and governance rights are not granted, we will explain why, and the decision will be revisited after a predetermined period, usually based on the reason for deferral. In most cases, this may involve gaining more familiarity with our governance model and will rarely be less than one month. Membership and governance rights are not tied together—you can be a full member of Irish House without needing to be involved in business-oriented decisions.
We value open communication, and feedback is welcome at any time. We also hold house meetings twice a month to facilitate more formal discussions, providing a comfortable space for addressing concerns or making suggestions. While there is no formal appeal process since the house is held by a single owner, community meetings can be called to discuss issues collectively and explore potential solutions.
If you’re interested in visiting Irish House, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us an email to arrange a visit. We typically start with an email conversation to learn more about you and answer any questions you may have. As a second step, we can arrange a video tour and virtual meeting with our current members, giving you an opportunity to get to know us better even before visiting in person. From there, we can schedule a time for you to visit, tour the house, and experience the community firsthand. Visits are a great way to see the space, learn about our ongoing renovations, and get a sense of the community dynamic.
One person or partnership has ultimate authority.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Monthly fees/dues: $100
Labor required: 2 hours/week
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
At Irish House, we are financially treated as individuals and do not share income. Rent is based on room size and occupancy, ranging between $500 and $625 per room. Utilities—including power, water, and internet—are shared equally among all members. The total costs typically run ~$250 for power, ~$65 for water, and ~$125 for internet each month (this is a household total, not individual cost estimate). Keep in mind that utility costs do fluctuate (for example, power costs are generally lower in spring and fall) while the rent will not go up over time without really good justification.
Membership dues of $100 per member go towards general upkeep and renovation projects, helping maintain and improve the shared space. Renters insurance is encouraged for individual protection of personal belongings. Additionally, we promote the sharing of resources wherever possible and look for opportunities for collective bargaining, such as shared phone plans or other group discounts, to benefit our community.
Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Internet
Smaller municipalities with local services but rural character.
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