Coliving: learn how shared housing works
Coliving goes far beyond just being a model that aims at shared housing.
With more and more followers around the world, its proposal is to create a sense of community among its residents, aiming at collaboration, saving resources and a more sustainable lifestyle.
But beyond that, this model has also become a great solution for those on a tighter budget, mainly because it offers a cheaper rental price compared to both buying and renting a property traditionally.
This was proven in a survey conducted by Today, which showed that 80% of young millennials - who are currently between 25 and 39 years old - prefer to rent properties rather than buy them.
For those who don't want to deal with roommates and want to gain independence by living alone , opting for coliving is a great start - and in this text, we will explain all the characteristics of this model that justify its growth and increased interest, especially among young people.
Before we begin, check out the topics that will be covered:
● What is coliving?
● How does coliving work?
● How much does it cost to live in a coliving?
● What are the advantages of coliving?
Let's get started!
What is coliving?
Coliving is a shared housing arrangement where each tenant has their own furnished room, but shares common areas such as the kitchen and living room with other residents. In a coliving arrangement, expenses are usually charged on a single invoice, and it is considered a practical and economical way of living.
In addition to valuing this concept of collaboration between tenants, another characteristic of colivings - and one of the main advantages that especially attracts young people who want to move for the first time - is that it is an affordable housing model, with a rental price much lower than buying a property.
These spaces are designed and managed by companies specializing in shared housing based on three fundamental concepts for coexistence and exchange of experiences in groups: sustainability, integration and collaboration.
We’ll explain more about how it works in a moment. But first, do you know where the idea of coliving came from? Although it’s a model that has gained traction in recent years, the idea of sharing living spaces is an old one.
The first building constructed based on these concepts was opened in 1972 in Denmark. Known as Saettedammen (The Housing Dam), the property housed 35 families, who had their own private homes and shared living spaces and encouraged activities such as parties, events and community meals.
The project was so successful that within a few years it spread and was implemented in other countries such as the United States, Canada and some regions of Europe. In Brazil, it gained traction thanks to architect Lilian Lubochinski, founder of the consultancy firm Cohousing Brasil.
But be careful! Although it has been replicated in the country under the name of cohousing , this concept represents a completely different housing model from coliving. Do you know the differences between them?
To avoid confusion, we have created a complete article on our blog with the characteristics of each of these models and how they work. Click on the following link and see: Coliving x Cohousing: understand the difference!
Now that we understand the concept of coliving, let's better understand how it works in the day-to-day lives of tenants.
How does coliving work?
If you associate coliving with a lack of privacy or disorganization of other residents, these are classic stereotypes that can no longer be in your mind!
The main characteristic of this housing model, as we said above, is to encourage collaboration between its residents. To do this, tenants must help each other so that everyone can enjoy the common spaces without any harm through the collaborative economy.
This economy advocates a sustainable and conscious way of living , aiming to reduce waste by sharing things. In this way, the quality of life in colivings can be improved, in addition to contributing to a reduction in costs in electricity, energy and water, for example.
If people share so many spaces, aren't there chances of conflicts or disagreements occurring?
This is a very common question when we talk about coliving, and to avoid any type of problem between tenants, there is a basic rule for those who want to enter this world.
All coliving residents must contribute to maintaining the three ideals of harmonious living: sustainability, integration, and collaboration. It is necessary to be aware of these pillars that support this housing model, so that you can do your part for the other tenants and understand how the building works. Otherwise, you will harm not only your own experience, but also the daily lives of other people.
Who is coliving suitable for?
As we saw above, before moving into a coliving, you should know exactly what this housing model offers and assess whether it meets your expectations and needs. This means that in practice, a coliving is not the best option for everyone who wants to live alone.
“You will necessarily live together and share spaces. If you share a room, you will sleep and wake up with a stranger. So, it is good to have a sense of respect for the physical space, emotional limits and well-being of others”, says lawyer Marilia Noelly Gois Monteiro in an interview with ZAP Em Casa .
In other words, this model is ideal for those seeking a more economical lifestyle, which encourages the exchange of experiences and community living - a profile that is normally more associated with young people, self-employed people or students, for example.
Despite this, there are many families or even elderly people who wish to live in a coliving especially to reduce monthly costs. In fact, there are many buildings geared towards families with children. In these cases, residents form a support network that helps with childcare.
We'll explain this financial issue in more detail in a moment. First, let's clarify a very common doubt between coliving and another housing model that is very popular among students: shared apartments.
What is the difference between coliving and Republic ?
Many people confuse shared housing with coliving - after all, they are very similar models where the resident rents a single room and shares common spaces with their colleagues. The big difference between them is not the housing itself, but rather the lifestyle of the tenants.
In short, we can say that there are three items that differentiate these models:
● Housing concept
● Tenant profile
● Structure and expenses
Dormitories are housing models with a very practical concept. Formed by students, they can offer private or shared rooms at an affordable price, where each young person lives independently despite having to share other spaces in the house.
Coliving, in turn, encourages a collaborative way of living. Its proposal is to encourage people to help each other with everyday issues, from preparing breakfast to sharing clothes and objects.
In these cases, group living is highly encouraged, with a series of activities and events organized by the condominium administrators to provide an exchange of ideas and experiences - which does not happen in shared apartments.
The second difference between these models is the profile of their tenants. While student housing is exclusively sought after by university students, colivings include this audience.
Anyone can live in a coliving space - from a college student to the CEO of a large company - as long as they agree with the ideals of collaboration and sharing, and are willing to encourage them in their daily lives.
Finally, the last difference between them concerns the entire functionality of their structure and costs.
The student housing is run and managed by the residents themselves, who define their own rules of coexistence and what will be shared. Students are usually required to bring some furniture and appliances - both for personal and shared use. In addition, monthly expenses can vary greatly, depending on the demand for use and the number of people living there.
In colivings, this task is the responsibility of the condominium administrators, who define the best practices and rules for living together. Typically, residents pay a single monthly fee to the company that includes, in addition to the rent, the costs of water, electricity, telephone, internet and gas - if it is not a fixed amount, it will not vary as much as in shared apartments.
Lastly, most of the time the rooms are already furnished with everything the tenant needs, and have other open spaces such as a gym, living area, games room, study room and coworking space.
They are very different models, aren't they? But there is still a big question that we haven't answered yet: what is the average cost of living in a coliving? Let's find out!
How much does it cost to live in a coliving?
The answer is: it depends.
There is no way to establish a fixed cost of living in a coliving, as this price will vary according to a series of items such as: location of the property, size of the apartment and leisure areas.
According to data released by Secovi-SP (São Paulo Housing Union), the value per square meter in the city can vary between R$12.92 and R$48.61, depending on the neighborhood chosen.
In practice, this means that if you choose a building located in one of São Paulo's "upscale" neighborhoods, such as Pinheiros or Itam Bibi, the rent will most likely be higher. In other areas, such as the city center, the price may be more affordable.
Here at Citas, all units are located in the center of São Paulo with prices starting at R$1,250.00. To provide the best housing experience to our citizens, we offer private or shared apartments; furnished or semi-furnished - including all the necessary infrastructure to ensure the greatest comfort to tenants.
With so many options and price variations, it is important to consider these factors before making your decision. After all, living alone for the first time is a big step, and it must be planned very carefully to avoid any surprises in your pocket.
Now that we’ve explained everything you need to know about this type of housing, let’s talk about the good stuff! Living in a coliving is a fantastic experience and will bring huge advantages to your daily life. Let’s find out what they are!
What are the advantages of coliving?
Let's get straight to the point. When you choose to live in a coliving, you will have the following main benefits:
● Location and accessibility;
● Time optimization;
● Saving resources;
● Socialization;
The first major advantage of coliving is its prime location and the consequent accessibility to the city's main points. To provide a better quality of life for tenants, these properties are built in strategic points of the city, located close to public transport stations in a way that makes it easier for residents to get around.
In this way, the time spent going to work or university, for example, is reduced and made easier, reducing stress and consequently contributing to sustainability - since dependence on a car to get around is practically eliminated.
In addition to contributing to this reduction in commuting time, another benefit that coliving provides when we talk about optimizing time is in relation to household chores.
By sharing common areas, tenants can help each other and share basic tasks such as cleaning and garden maintenance. This makes day-to-day life more practical, and you won't have to worry about spending a lot of time on these responsibilities.
These items directly impact a third advantage that is highly valued by those looking to live in colivings: saving resources and the consequent reduction in monthly expenses.
This also means that the rental price is lower than if you were to buy your own property. Apartments that fit your budget are a big draw, especially for young people, and a great option for those who need to save money.
Finally, the last advantage of coliving is the possibility of socializing with people of different ages, habits and cultures, an experience that you will not have in your own property.
It is very common to see the encouragement of collaborative coexistence through activities and events, which contributes to greater integration and meeting people who have the same interests as you - whether in a personal or even professional context.
Are there any disadvantages to living in a coliving?
The only disadvantage that this housing model can bring is for people who have difficulty getting along and relating - even though each tenant has their own privacy in their own room.
Therefore, it is important to highlight something we mentioned above: before moving to a coliving, be aware of its collaborative living proposal, so that your experience is not unpleasant and you do not have any unwanted surprises.
Conclusion
Coliving is already a global trend. Although it has well-defined characteristics and is more aimed at certain profiles, this housing model has been gaining more and more followers and people interested in all the financial and social benefits it provides.
For those who are moving for the first time, it is a great option to avoid high expenses and not feel alone, since you will be able to meet and interact with several people of different ages in the common areas of the property.
We wrote a very complete text about how much it costs to live alone in São Paulo , which may have some additional tips for you to make this decision.
But remember: before making any decision, evaluate all the points we mentioned in this text - location of the building, rental value, and coliving principles - to make sure that these items are aligned with your expectations and needs.
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