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Will Co-living transform urban landscapes as an affordable housing solution?

Written by: Mary-Anne Bowring 06/10/2023
  501       0
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What is co-living?

Co-living is a popular option where the renter gets a small self-contained apartment and then shares living spaces with others. Amenities on offer include communal cooking areas, cafes, swimming pools, resident lounges, and games rooms. A sense of community is fostered through events from circuit training to pitch deck evenings and TED talks. Bills are included and often deposits are not required.

Will Co-living transform urban landscapes as an affordable housing solution?

The need for a problem to be solved is often said to be the mother of invention. Well, whilst an oft-repeated clich is this what co-living is fast becoming? A solution for the lack of housing and the rising cost of it. Co-living in London and other major UK towns is emerging as a popular option because of its affordability, convenience of location, and easy access to modern amenities that entire popular cities offer. Whilst not cheap, the offset for limited personal square feet is lifestyle, community, events, and amenity spaces.

Many pundits suggest that space sharing will soon become the most sought-after alternative to hostels and postgraduate accommodation. The ever-evolving needs of renters, many of whom have grown up in purpose-built student accommodation are a major influence on the housing market. This twinned with the cost-of-living crisis, shortage of housing supply, and rising rents puts living right front and center as a solution to urban living which otherwise is extremely costly.

Who is co-living aimed at?

The UK's housing sector is struggling to accommodate the needs of Millennial renters, and it isn't going to get any easier than Gen Z. enters the market. These youngsters prefer a better living experience and will pay a little more rent for the privilege. Those who choose co-living effectively ditch apartment space for communal space, a swimming pool, a gym, and other social amenities within the building. To them co-living and the community spaces it offers is a lifestyle choice.

Co-living and student housing similarities 

Co-living started as an affordable student living option because of the high accommodation costs in London and other UK cities and the need to live without travel costs close to a university. That said, space sharing is a standard living choice among singles and bachelors; because of affordability, it is not a choice but a necessity. The rising popularity of co-living solves several problems:

  • - It nurtures career-conscious individuals who can share accommodation with other professionals and office-goers
  • - It eliminates the challenge of finding a flatmate or people to share with - especially if the renter is in a new job new city
  • - It helps the co-living renters share experiences, ideas, and knowledge, they can live socially and find friends

Co-living is more affordable

Affordability compared to a conventional larger apartment is perhaps the most obvious advantage of co-living spaces in London. If both renting and buying a normal-sized home is beyond the renter's means, and the renter seeks quality, not an HMO, and then perhaps is their only option. Particularly if the renter is leaving similarly styled purpose-built student housing, is a solo in a new city and they are about to begin a career. Co-living apartments in the UK, like purpose-built student housing, come with all bills included, internet connections, are furnished, and have other necessities and amenities provided.

Who are the customers of co-living?

Co-living is for renters who do not have spare cash to furnish their apartments; it is popular with post-grads who prefer to live alone rather than flat share. Other typical customers include individuals immigrating to the UK as digital nomads, international students, or working professionals - all of whom face the challenges of making friends in a foreign country. For them, co-living ensures easy access to on-premise communal facilities, community events, tenancy-agreements-made-easy'>planetrent.co.uk/blog/coworking-and-offices-in-camden-town'>co-working spaces, and indoor gyms. These facilities enable newcomers to make acquaintances without the hassle of living with strangers in flat-shares, which do not guarantee privacy besides the likelihood of conflicts with roommates.

How to operate co-living:  the brand promise

1. Engage the singles, post-grads, immigrants, 1st jobbers and 1st-time renters

Co-living spaces in London are suitable for a broad spectrum of individuals, including couples, singles, and working professionals. The brand promise of co-living is that the resident can build their social circle regardless of where they have come from as the co-living proposition gives them a quick start to embracing living in a new way in a new city. Co-living fosters a diversity of cultures and nationalities and the social events, gaming nights, and other networking opportunities are curated to reflect this. Co-living operators boast that co-living is the most effective solution to beat urban loneliness.

Co-living is a suitable option for the new generation as young people prefer living with like-minded individuals. Co-living offers a safe community 1st culture for those seeking their first move away from the family. Space sharing is a way to get known, enter the community, and make new friends. There is a guarantee of freedom to do your own thing while building strong bonds with others.

2 Make it hassle-free: freedom from maintenance

Feeling free includes feeling free from maintenance responsibilities: not having to phone agents or landlords to report things, not needing to take time off work to let workmen in, and better still the property being swanky and new and unlikely to need maintenance anyway. 'Want freedom from the maintenance issues, choose our new space-sharing apartments, find friends, and live the community lifestyle'.

3 Don't commute: live where you want

Co-living apartments provide proximity to the city center, eliminating commuting hassles and expenses. They offer flexible stay options for short-term and long-term use. Stay a day, a week, a year. Stay in between moves, stay and find a flatmate, stay whilst you wait for your house purchase to go through, stay and see if like you your new job, come stay and try our city. Whatever the draw is co-living is not quite a hotel and certainly offers more than an older-style Victorian flat share.

4 simplify living, then sell the lifestyle

Co-living provides helpful amenities like cable television, laundry services, cleaning services, and seamless internet connectivity. Space sharing reduces living expenses while enjoying a better lifestyle. The property management company looks after periodic and unforeseen maintenance to help you focus on your career and studies. In addition, there is just one bill to deal with 'the all-inclusive rent' or put the other way pay your rent and live in a 'no bills environment'.

In conclusion

You can ensure cost savings and access to healthy community living by choosing Co-living: doing so will boost your personal and professional life. Thoughtfully designed tenancy-agreements-made-easy'>planetrent.co.uk/blog/coworking-and-offices-in-camden-town'>co-working and co-living spaces focus on providing flexible and gratifying living experiences for young professionals from across the globe.



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