The properties are located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site and are mostly Category B listed buildings.

The co-operative's Management Committee are all tenants and have had training and support to run this organisation which has a turnover of almost £750,000.

The co-operative was formed to prevent a block of historic Georgian tenements on Lauriston Place, Heriot Place and Keir Street from planned demolition by the University of Edinburgh, as part of the University's substantial expansion programme at the time.

It was agreed that Lister would take over the tenements, and with the help of the former Edinvar Housing Association, renovated them between 1978-82 to provide 135 flats.

When similar blocks on the south side of Lauriston Place, between Lauriston Terrace and Archibald Place, were threatened with demolition in the mid-80s by the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Lister fought again with others to save those blocks and again won.