Community Governance 101: How DAO Members Shape Their Neighborhoods

Why Governance Matters in Housing

In traditional rental housing, a distant landlord or property management company makes every decision. When the roof leaks, they choose the contractor. When rents increase, they set the number. Residents have no seat at the table.

Built By DAO flips that model. Every resident who holds EQT equity credits becomes a voting member of their building's governance structure. Decisions about maintenance, renovations, community spaces, and budgets go through a transparent proposal-and-vote process.

How the Voting System Works

Proposals

Any member can submit a proposal. Whether it is installing solar panels on the roof, adding a community garden, or adjusting the maintenance schedule, the process starts with a written proposal submitted through the Built By DAO platform. Proposals must include a description, cost estimate, and timeline.

Discussion Period

Once submitted, every proposal enters a 14-day discussion period. During this window, all building members can ask questions, suggest modifications, and provide feedback. Proposals often improve significantly during this stage because the people closest to the issue — the residents themselves — shape the final version.

Voting

After the discussion period closes, voting opens for 7 days. Each member receives voting weight based on two factors: a baseline vote (equal for every resident) and a weighted component proportional to their EQT holdings. This hybrid model ensures that long-term residents with significant equity have meaningful influence, while newer residents still have a real voice.

Proposals require a simple majority (over 50%) to pass. Major decisions — such as selling a building or changing the EQT allocation percentage — require a two-thirds supermajority.

What Members Vote On

Building Operations

Residents approve annual maintenance budgets, select service providers, and prioritize capital improvements. If the building needs a new HVAC system or upgraded common areas, the community decides which projects come first.

Community Investments

A portion of each building's revenue is set aside for community improvement. Members vote on how to allocate these funds — whether toward a shared workspace, playground equipment, security upgrades, or energy efficiency retrofits.

Policy Decisions

Governance extends to building policies as well. Pet policies, quiet hours, shared space booking rules, and guest access protocols are all set through community vote rather than top-down mandates.

Multi-Signature Treasury Controls

To ensure accountability, all building funds are managed through multi-signature wallets. No single person can move money unilaterally. Fund disbursements require approval from elected treasury signers — typically three out of five designated members.

All transactions are recorded on-chain, so any member can audit spending at any time. Quarterly financial reports are generated automatically and shared with every governance participant.

Getting Involved

You do not need to be a blockchain expert or an experienced property manager to participate. Built By DAO provides clear guides, templates for proposals, and a simple voting interface. Every resident receives onboarding during their first month that walks through the governance tools step by step.

The result is housing where the people who live there decide how it operates. No distant landlord. No opaque management company. Just a community building something together.