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In short, coliving is a version of shared housing. Specifically, it combines the rental of a room with the enjoyment of common spaces, which are also designed to encourage coexistence among residents.
Thus, unlike a traditional shared flat, coliving offers certain features, such as coworking areas or community events, which makes it an attractive option for people looking for a more collaborative and flexible lifestyle.
If you are interested in finding out more about this housing option and why more and more people are choosing it, we invite you to read on and discover all its benefits.
What is coliving
Coliving is a housing concept that seeks to promote community living. In essence, it consists of renting a room in a building or house that has shared common areas, such as the kitchen, living room or even coworking areas.
It is not really something new, and we could compare it to the model of student residences, boarding houses, hostels or residences. Unlike conventional rentals, coliving includes additional services such as cleaning, maintenance, internet connection and, in particular, activities to encourage interaction between residents.
What sets coliving apart from other types of shared housing is its focus on creating a community. It offers not only a place to live, but also an environment where you can meet people with similar interests, share experiences and make new connections.
This model of co-living has spread especially in big cities and is a particularly attractive option for young professionals, digital nomads and people looking for flexibility in their way of living.
Origin and evolution of coliving
The concept of coliving has its roots in community movements that emerged throughout the 20th century. Examples include cohousing in Denmark in the 1960s (discussed below) and the hippie community experiments in the United States.
These early models were based on the idea of sharing space and resources to foster more collaborative and sustainable living. However, the modern version of coliving has adapted to the needs of the 21st century, especially in urban and professional environments.
Coliving as we know it today began to develop in the early 2010s, driven by the rise of digital nomads and the transformation in the way we work. And equally influenced by the housing market.
As remote working has become more common and labour mobility has increased, more and more people are looking for housing solutions that offer flexibility, with integrated services.
This change has been particularly relevant in large cities such as New York, London or Berlin, where rental prices are high. In this sense, it has also gained popularity in Madrid and Barcelona, especially among millennials.
How coliving works
Coliving is a flexible solution, adapted to current needs, which integrates accommodation, services and community in one place. In this sense, contracts are often customisable, allowing you to stay from a few weeks to several months.
Generally, in a coliving space you rent a room, with its own or shared bathroom, while the common areas – such as the kitchen, living room or work areas – are accessible to all residents.
In addition, coliving stands out for the services included in the rent. In most cases, you do not have to worry about utilities, such as water, electricity or internet, as they are included in the monthly rent.
Services such as cleaning, laundry, maintenance and even community activities, such as workshops or social events, are also usually provided. The aim of coliving is not only to provide you with a home, but also to offer you a shared and collaborative living experience.
Advantages of coliving
Living in a coliving offers you a series of advantages that make this option an attractive alternative to traditional rentals or shared flats. Here are some of the main benefits:
- Flexibility: unlike conventional rentals, which usually require long-term contracts, in colivings you can opt for shorter stays. Even weeks.
- All-inclusive: the rental price usually includes all the costs associated with the property. This allows you to avoid surprises and better plan your monthly budget.
- Community and networking: living together on a daily basis, together with the organisation of joint activities, encourages the creation of social and professional networks. This is especially useful if you are interested in expanding your circle of contacts or developing collaborative projects.
- Spaces designed for work: coliving housing is usually equipped with coworking areas, internet access and rooms for meetings or video calls. An environment adapted to be productive without the need to move.
- Sustainability: designed to be shared by several people, colivings tend to optimise resources and reduce their environmental footprint.
- Access to prime locations: colivings are often located in central areas, where the price of conventional rental housing would be prohibitive.
Differences between coliving and cohousing
Although coliving and cohousing share their origins, and principles such as community living and collaboration between residents, they are two different approaches.
Coliving is more oriented towards offering flexible and temporary housing solutions, mainly focused on young people or digital nomads. Residents have their own private space – usually a room – and share common areas managed by the building or home owner. It is a model more similar to renting.
Cohousing, on the other hand, is a long-term cooperative housing model. Residents are co-owners and form a more established community. In this case, the dwellings are usually independent, with a house or flat for each family or individual, but certain facilities are shared, such as laundries or communal rooms.
