Difficulties in finding housing in large towns are one of the main problems of the 21st century. Sub-3% vacancy rates – plus long waiting lists and applications far outpacing available units – have confirmed outsized demand for co-living housing. Hence the need to search for similar but new formulas that will both solve this issue and improve people’s quality of life. And so far, the best solution is coliving, a relatively new trend in real estate in Europe, designed to revolutionize the rental sector. But what is coliving?
The simplest definition is a group of people, basically not connected with each other in any way, but having shared living. Gather several people in one apartment, and you will have neighbors. Gather several dozen people in one room, and you have a dormitory. Coliving is something in between. Such a new form for work and life is a necessity for some people. For some, it is a way of life. And there are good reasons for this, which are, above all, benefits of coliving.
In this article, you can learn more about them by highlighting the most basic and necessary ones. Thanks to the information received, you can understand whether you will like the offers available by coliving.
What are the benefits of coliving?
There are a lot of benefits to coliving, and among them, we highlight the following:
- Flexibility. The lease terms are flexible and are usually from a month to a year (in some cases, there may be restrictions on the age of tenants). In any case, tenants are not required to rent a house for a long time.
- Comfort. Shared living rent is comfortable because of the cost. You no longer have to pay for both an apartment and a place in the coworking space because now they are combined. Thus, there is no need to worry about paying additional bills.
- More privacy than shared rentals. In the case of coliving, tenants do not tolerate sharing restrictions such as using the same refrigerator, agreeing to alternate watching TV or using a balcony, arranging for guest visits, etc. Everyone enjoys their own personal space and more freedom without giving up the services and amenities of the space.
- The amount of housework is less. Since many shared living contracts include services such as cleaning rental housing, colivers do not have to spend their work hours on household chores, thereby freeing up time for their personal affairs.
- It is generally cheaper than regular rentals. If we include the rent and the services received in the monthly fee, coliving represents savings for those who use it. And although everything will depend on the housing characteristics and the terms of the contract, on average coliving allows you to save about 250-300 euros per month in European cities.
- Helping young people become independent faster. As a consequence of the previous point, it is clear that a more budgetary alternative to regular rent can help young people find their own space.
- The perfect way to avoid feeling lonely. Living in such a small community is a good way to combat the loneliness plaguing more and more people in big cities. According to a May 2020 study, 5.0% of people (about 2.6 million adults) said that they felt lonely “often” or “always”. Therefore, the shared living option is perfect for maintaining mental health.
What do most people want from coliving?
Recently, IKEA, together with Anton & Irene, surveyed more than 7,000 people from different countries. The study aimed to find out how people would like to live in the future (in 2030). Although the survey was initially conceived as a game and a joke, companies have managed to make intriguing discoveries about new trends and what exactly people want in the future.
Here are the most interesting wishes for living in the world of tomorrow:
- Most of the respondents said they would prefer small communes for cohabitation – from four to ten people – because “they want to communicate, but not too often.”
Coliving situations will continue to gain universal favor, but on one condition: only singles and couples without children can live in them. Residents will prefer to live with pets, but not with children or teenagers. - The respondents also shared that they would like to share household chores among themselves – for example, cleaning the premises. They don’t mind the shared internet, utilities, or workspaces.
- What worries people the most is the lack of personal space. The respondents also mentioned with whom they would like to share the coliving space. At the very top of the list were “honest, neat, and attentive neighbors.” Nowadays, coliving guests generally cannot choose their future neighbors, and they would like to change that. People living in coliving are asking for an extension of their powers – in particular, through a general vote, they want to establish rules, decide whether to accept new residents or not, and so on.
And the most exciting thing is that their wishes are completely within reach! Every day there are changes that put coliving higher in their demand, thanks to its flexibility and experienced founders. For example, YoKo Village provides extended living opportunities in a community rich in beautiful nature and new opportunities that you will not find in conventional rental housing! Therefore, we recommend that you take advantage of the new type of residence in Costa Rica, forgetting about the problems and disadvantages of past housing conditions.
FAQ
What is the difference between coliving and cohousing?
When it comes to cohousing, it means that all tenants have their own full-fledged housing, where there are common areas such as gardens, laundry facilities, etc. And coliving is when all residents have their own bedroom and, possibly, a bathroom, but all other parts of the house – the kitchen, dining room, workplaces, and others – are shared.
Is coliving safe?
Coliving is a safer way to live than by yourself. For example, the owner of YoKo Village provides all the ways to protect your valuables like 24 hour gated security, security cameras to protect you, and more.
How do coliving apartments work?
In general, coliving apartments are shared sets of rooms with separate bedrooms for each person.
Why is coliving so cheap?
The coliving price depends on the amenities and is still cheaper than other accommodation options. Firstly, all because of the competitive market for services, and secondly, you pay less since the living expenses are shared between all their participants.
