Auroville Housing Policy

At Auroville nothing belongs to anyone in particular.
All is collective property.
To be utilised with my blessings for the welfare of all.

It is generally agreed that private property has no place in Auroville and that all assets, even if created by individuals, belong to the community as a whole. These assets are then entrusted to individuals and groups for proper management or stewardship on behalf of the community. While housing is a right, which Auroville strives to provide to its residents, different social and economic factors have in recent years led to a situation where individuals have had little choice but to outlay considerable sums of money and energy to cover their individual housing needs. This Housing Policy document formulates guidelines, based on today's realities, to deal with different problems that exist and that may arise out of the present situation.

1) General principles

a) All houses, apartments and other immovable constructions created on land owned by the Auroville Foundation are owned by the Auroville Foundation. The Auroville Foundation holds the ownership of all these assets in trust for humanity as a whole.
b) An Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville, a Friend of Auroville or any other person will have no private ownership of houses, apartments or other constructions owned by the Auroville Foundation.
c) An Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville will not purchase any immovable property in the area which according to Auroville's Master Plan is intended to become part of Auroville in the future, or in the vicinity of this area.
d) Aurovilians and Newcomers to Auroville will reside in Auroville.

2) Management and Stewardship

a) All houses, apartments and other immovable assets created on land owned by the Auroville Foundation are under the management responsibility of the Funds and Assets Management Committee (FAMC). The FAMC delegates part of this responsibility to the Housing Service.
b) An Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville who resides in a house or apartment in Auroville is the steward of that house or apartment.
c) A steward will properly maintain the house or apartment and make a contribution towards the collective payment of the yearly house tax.
d) A person who is not an Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville cannot be a steward of a house or apartment owned by the Auroville Foundation and such persons have no right of occupancy, without express permission of the Housing Service and the Entry Group. Any person who is not an Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville, who is permanently residing in a house or apartment owned by the Auroville Foundation, including the family members of an Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville, must sign the same declaration as Aurovilians and Newcomers that they have will make no claims of ownership on assets owned by the Auroville Foundation.

3) Temporary absence of a Steward

a) The Aurovilian or Newcomer who:
i) Wishes to leave Auroville for a period longer than six months, due to which the house or apartment will be unoccupied, or
ii) Wishes to relinquish the stewardship of a house or an apartment for a specified period of time will, after obtaining the agreement of the concerned settlement, communicate the name of the new steward to the Housing Service, which has the right to object. Any such objection that cannot be resolved between the parties will be referred to the FAMC for final decision.
b) A Friend of Auroville will enter into an agreement with the Housing Service for the proper allocation of the house or apartment during his or her absence. Such an agreement will also include provisions for maintenance of the house or apartment and contribution towards the house tax.

4) Permanent absence of a Steward

a) In case an Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville, or a Friend of Auroville leaves Auroville permanently, the house or apartment will be re-allocated by the Housing Service in consultation with that Aurovilian, Newcomer or Friend of Auroville and the community in which the house or apartment is situated.
i) A Newcomer to Auroville is considered to have left Auroville permanently if his or her newcomer period has been terminated without s/he having become Aurovilian;
ii) An Aurovilian is considered to have left Auroville permanently if his or her name has been removed from the Master List;
iii) A Friend of Auroville will be considered to have left Auroville permanently if s/he has not been living in the allocated house or apartment for a period of two years without the prior agreement of the Housing Service and the Entry Group.
iv) An Aurovilian or a Friend of Auroville who leaves Auroville permanently is not entitled to any form of compensation for leaving the apartment or house.
b) In case a Newcomer to Auroville or an Aurovilian dies, the house or apartment will normally be allocated to the Aurovilian(s) or Newcomer(s) with whom the deceased was living prior to his or her death. If a controversy arises over the allocation, the Housing Service will make the final decision.
i) In allocating the house or apartment, the Housing Service will consider the request(s), if any, of an Aurovilian child or children of the deceased who are living in Auroville at the time of the death, or in case an Aurovilian child or children are temporarily absent from Auroville, intend to return to Auroville within a reasonable time after the death.
ii) In allocating the house or apartment, the Housing Service will consider the request(s), if any, of an Aurovilian person who has financially contributed to the building of the house but has ceased to live there within the last five years.
c) In case a Friend of Auroville dies, the house or apartment will be re-allocated by the Housing Service.

5) House allocation

a) The Housing Service, in consultation with the appropriate zone-monitoring group, will make the allocation of all houses and apartments. In making any temporary allocation, the Housing Service will consult the steward and the community in which the house or apartment is situated; in making any permanent allocation, the Housing Service will consult the community in which the house or apartment is situated.
b) The Housing Service can only allocate a house or apartment to an Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville. In exceptional cases, in consideration of services being rendered to Auroville, the Housing Service may make a house or apartment available to consultants, long-term guests, trainees, students, civil workers and others who will stay in Auroville for a limited period of time with the prior agreement of the Entry Group.
c) The Housing Service may decide to allocate a house to an Aurovilian against a contribution from the new steward, or to waive any contribution.
d) When a house or an apartment other than a Newcomer house is being allocated to a Newcomer, the allocation will be subject to the same guidelines and conditions as outlined under section 10(d) of the policy. Normally Aurovilians are to be given priority over newcomers.
e) (Housing Service to please provide current criteria for prioritising allocations of houses and apartments)

6) Staff Quarters

a) All staff quarters should be registered as such with the Housing Service.
b) The executive(s) of the unit, who are responsible for them, in consultation with the Housing Service, will make the allocation of staff quarters. The executive(s) of the unit concerned will keep the Housing Service at all times informed about the occupancy of the staff quarters.
c) In the case that staff quarters will be unoccupied for a period of at least 6 months, the Housing Service may allocate them in consultation with the unit executive(s).
d) Staff quarters should not be provided to people other than Aurovilians or Newcomers to Auroville without the prior agreement of the Housing Service as provided for under 5 b.
e) Staff quarters should not be provided to employees including community watchmen without the prior agreement of the Housing Service and without a formal lease agreement. (Existing cases should be regularised.)

7) House Exchange

a) A Newcomer to Auroville, an Aurovilian or a Friend of Auroville wishing to become a steward of a house or apartment in exchange for his/her present stewardship of a house or apartment, will contact the Housing Service.
b) The Housing Service will determine the modalities of such exchanges. In particular, the Housing Service may decide that a contribution to Auroville from one or both parties concerned is required, or to waive any such contribution. All transfer of funds will be channelled through Auroville Fund or any other fund designated by the FAMC.
c) An Aurovilian, Newcomer to Auroville or a Friend of Auroville cannot receive any monetary compensation as a consequence of the exchange of the stewardship of a house or apartment.
d) Normally a house or apartment can only be exchanged for another house or apartment, any request for an exception to that guideline has to be presented to the FAMC, whose decision will be final.

8) New Housing

a) An Aurovilian, Newcomer to Auroville, Friend of Auroville or an Auroville unit wishing to construct an individual house or a multiple housing project will obtain the prior written permission of the Development Council, and in the case of multiple housing projects, the FAMC. Before giving its approval, the Development Council and the FAMC will ascertain that:
i) The proposed construction is technically viable;
ii) The funds necessary for the construction of an individual house are available or the proposed multiple housing project is financially sound;
iii) For a multiple housing complex or project, proper project and financial management have been provided for;
iv) Those applicants, who are Newcomers or Friends of Auroville, have obtained a positive recommendation from the Entry Group.
Before giving its final approval, the Development Council will inform the Housing Service.
b) An Aurovilian, Newcomer to Auroville, Friend of Auroville, or Auroville unit wishing to construct an individual house will be fully responsible for the realisation of the construction. It is at the discretion of the Housing Service to provide funds to help an Aurovilian who has difficulties in finishing a new construction.
c) Project holders of a multiple housing complex or project shall report on the status of the project at least every six months to the Development Council and the FAMC or upon request if problems or necessary modifications to the project have been identified.
d) i) It is recommended that the size of a residence does not exceed 60 m2 carpet area for an individual plus 30 m2 for each additional projected inhabitant;
ii) It is recommended that construction costs do not exceed the maximum m2 costs (i.e. Rs. 10,000 in 2002, not including furnishing, fitting and infrastructure);
iii) It is recommended that the maximum cost for a house shall not exceed Rs 10 lakhs (excluding furnishing, fitting and infrastructure).
e) An Aurovilian, Newcomer to Auroville, Friend of Auroville or an Auroville unit permitted to construct an individual house or to participate in the construction of a multiple housing project will:
i) Make a 15 % contribution, to be allocated between the Housing Fund, the Development Fund, the Land Fund and Administration according to a scale to be worked out by a sub group of the FAMC very soon.
ii) If the cost of a house exceeds the maximum recommended cost of Rs 10 lakhs, the Housing Service will negotiate a surcharge with the individual.
iii) The lower limit under which no contribution is requested is Rs 4 lakhs.
iv) These amounts are subject to inflation and will be reviewed on a yearly basis.
f) Contributions will be based on final costs and not estimates and can be reduced or waived at the discretion of the FAMC. All funds for the building of individual houses shall pass through the Auroville Fund, or any other appropriate channel recognized by the FAMC and the 15% for the Housing Fund, the Development Fund, the Land Fund and Administration shall be deducted at source.

9) Guesthouses and Guest-apartments.

a) All buildings used for the express purpose of providing accommodation for guests, Newcomers to Auroville, or Friends of Auroville, with the exception accommodation made available through the Housing Service, shall be administered as units under the Auroville Guest House Trust.
b) Houses and apartments may not be transformed into guesthouses or guest apartments
All contributions from guests towards accommodation not specifically designated as a guesthouse or a guest apartment shall be made to the Housing Service through a designated account in Auroville Maintenance Fund. The Housing Service will transfer an adequate budget for all necessary maintenance expenses to the relevant steward of the accommodation(This section of the Housing Policy will be reviewed when the Guest House Policy has been finalised)
(It has been suggested that the Guest Service could become a unit under the GH Trust and all contributions as under 9c would be channelled through that unit rather than the Housing Service.)

10) Newcomer Housing

a) In order to provide shelter to Newcomers so that they may experience Auroville with a minimum of difficulties, small houses and apartments specified as 'Newcomer Houses' are available for them
b) The FAMC delegates the management of Newcomer Houses to the Housing Service.
c) The Housing Service will normally allocate a Newcomer House to Newcomers for a maximum period of two years. The Housing Service can extend this period for a limited period, whether or not the Newcomer has meanwhile become Aurovilian.
d) The Housing Service may allocate a Newcomer House against a lump-sum deposit or a monthly contribution from the Newcomer to the Newcomer Housing Fund, or waive such contribution under exceptional circumstances. The FAMC is to be informed in writing about such cases.
The Housing Service will manage a lump sum deposit as follows:
i) If a Newcomer leaves Auroville, s/he will be reimbursed according to the original agreement as per the following ratio: 80% of the deposit within the first year spent in the Newcomer unit, or 70% within the second year. (These percentages are being reviewed by the Housing Service)
ii) If a Newcomer becomes Aurovilian, the right to any reimbursement will lapse. If s/he leaves the Newcomer unit within the first year, 80% of the deposit will be transferred to a special account with the Auroville Fund to be used for his/her future house in Auroville. If s/he leaves the Newcomer unit within the second year, 70% of the deposit will be transferred.
e) The Housing Service may decide that Newcomer Housing can be allocated for a limited period of time to a consultant, long-term guest, trainee, student, or other person who does not wish to become Aurovilian against payment of a monthly contribution with the prior agreement of the Entry Group.
f) The Housing Service may decide that Newcomer Housing can be allocated to an Aurovilian for a period of up to one year provided that future housing is assured. The Housing Service in this case will waive any contribution from the Aurovilian concerned.

11) Housing Repair Fund, Housing Fund and Newcomer Housing Fund

The Housing Service will manage the Housing Repair Fund, the Housing Fund and the Newcomer Housing Fund.

a) Housing Repair Fund
i) The income of the Housing Repair Fund will consist of:
(1) Contributions from the Central Fund;
(2) Other donations
ii) The income of the Housing Repair Fund will be used to repair and maintain houses and apartments of Aurovilians without sufficient means.
b) Housing Fund
i) The income of the Housing Fund will consist of:
(1) Contributions from the building of new houses under sections 8e above;
(2) Contributions towards the allocation of a house or apartment under 5c and 7b above;
(3) Other donations.
ii) The income of the Housing Fund will be used to provide new houses to or improve old houses for Aurovilians without sufficient means, in consultation with the Development Council.
c) Newcomer Housing Fund
i) The income of the Newcomer Housing Fund will consist of:
(1) Un-reimbursed deposits as cited in section 10d.
(2) Monthly contributions as cited in sections 10d and 10e above.
(3) Other income.
ii) The income of the Newcomer Housing Fund will be used for the reconditioning of Newcomer Houses as well as for the construction of new Newcomer Houses.

12) Allocations from the Housing Fund and the Housing Repair Fund.

a) To be eligible for receiving financial aid from the Housing Fund and Housing Repair Fund an applicant must:
i) Be an Aurovilian; and
ii) Be engaged in a regular work for the community.
b) In the case that the requests for financial aid exceed the funds available, the Housing Service shall consider the following criteria to establish the priority for allotting aid:
i) Length of residence in Auroville;
ii) Urgency of the situation;
iii) Ability of the applicant to contribute him- or herself and/or obtain donations or loans from other sources, and the applicant's ability to repay such loans.

c) The Housing Service may allocate funds in the following ways:
i) In the form of a full or partial donation;
ii) In the form of a full or partial loan, to be reimbursed in monthly or other instalments by the unit for which the applicant works and/or by the applicant if he/she has the financial means to do so.
d) The Housing Service may request the unit or service in which the applicant works to make a donation or a loan to the Housing Service, to be used for the applicant's house or apartment.

13) Housing Service Mandate

a) The Housing Service will have as its mandate:
i) To allocate all houses, apartments and newcomer houses, in consultation with the appropriate zone-monitoring group. In cases where such allocation is contested, the allocation shall be done by the FAMC;
ii) To secure the income and manage the expenditure of the Housing Repair Fund, Housing Fund, and the Newcomer Housing Fund;
iii) To maintain a list of all houses, apartments and newcomer houses owned by the Auroville Foundation. This list will identify all houses and the names of the Aurovilian(s), Newcomer(s), Friend(s) of Auroville who have been allocated the stewardship of the house(s) or apartment(s);
iv) To maintain a list of all staff quarters and houses built by Auroville units for their staff. This list will contain the names of the person(s) who are occupying the staff quarters or house;
v) To collect the contributions for the collective payment of the annual house tax. The Housing Service will devise and, after approval of the FAMC, implement a system to categorise houses and apartments in accordance with size and building quality, allocate the total of house taxes owed accordingly, and request each steward to contribute the specified amount.
b) The Housing Service will report once every three months on all its activities to the FAMC. The FAMC shall publish the report in the Auroville News.
c) The Housing Service will publish on a regular base via the Auroville News a list of houses and apartments for which a new stewardship is being considered. The Housing Service will only allocate a new stewardship after the information regarding availability of the house or apartment has been known to the community for at least two weeks.

14) Disputes.

All disputes between an Aurovilian, a Newcomer to Auroville, a Friend of Auroville, an Auroville unit or any other person who has been allocated a house or apartment, and the Housing Service will be settled by the FAMC.

This policy will be reviewed by the FAMC one year following its implementation.
Approved by the FAMC on 28 July 2000 last modified on January 2003

- updated January 2003

For up-to-date information on housing in Auroville, consult:

Housing Service,
Bharat Nivas,
Auroville 605 101,
Tamil Nadu,
INDIA

Email: housingauroville.org.in