What is Co-Living? Everything You Need to Know
Moving to a new city can be challenging, especially in the UK. Fortunately, finding affordable accommodation close to where you want to be, making friends, networking, and creating your dream lifestyle is now easier than ever. Welcome to Co-Living UK! The stress-free way to live your best life. Here’s how it works.
What is Co-Living in the UK?
Co-Living is an increasingly popular, cost-effective choice for many in the UK. Unlike a traditional house share, co-living offers flexibility, includes all amenities, and aims to create a sense of community within households. Utilities and cleaning are often included, and all the rooms, kitchen and living spaces are furnished.
Short term stays are also possible, which is great if you’re only visiting for a few months, relocating or looking to buy in the area. Many people prefer co-living above anything else precisely for these reasons.
Is co-living right for you?
Now that we know what co-living is, it’s time to find out if it’s a good fit for you. While co-living might seem like a popular option for students and young working professionals, there is no age limit if you find the right co-living space and community. It’s all about finding your perfect fit.
If you’re considering co-living, why not speak to our team at Redwood Co-Living to find out what options we have available that will suit your needs. We’re always ready to help.
Co-Living at Redwood
At Redwood Co-Living, we offer several co-living options. Not only can you rent a fully furnished room with communal living spaces, but you can also opt to rent an entire house for yourself and your friends. This makes it perfect for anyone, no matter your needs.
With several co-living houses already established in London and Cambridge, Redwood plans to expand across the UK. Our primary services to our tenants include:
Creating a welcoming co-living environment
Managing the house and admin, providing utilities and cleaning communal areas
Support through our interactive tenant portal - we’re always available when you need us
Thus, you get a fantastic home, a friendly community and none of the stress related with traditional renting.
The Co-Living experience
Co-living is different to renting a room in a house share or staying on your own. The main distinction is that everything is geared towards making your life easier and providing you with opportunities to socialise and meet new people. It’s the perfect balance between independence and community.
The benefits of Co-Living
There are many benefits to choosing co-living, especially in the UK. These include:
1. Increased flexibility
You’re not tied down to a long lease and can often opt for a shorter stay. This is perfect if you’re moving between cities, on secondment with work or a new student who doesn’t want to commit to a long lease.
2. All-inclusive prices
Depending on the co-living provider, all utilities, internet, and cleaning may be included in the price of your rent. This makes budgeting much easier. With Redwood Co-Living all our rooms offer all-inclusive billing.
3. A sense of community
One of the best things about co-living UK is the fostered sense of community. This is perfect if you’re new to a city or want to meet like-minded people.
4. More bang for your buck
You get more space and better quality furnishings than you would in a traditional house share.
5. Convenience
Everything is taken care of for you, so you can focus on enjoying your life. Did you know that at Redwood we also have an online tenant portal where you can easily communicate with us, report issues, request information and get support.
6. Efficiency
Many co-living spaces, like at Redwood, are operated by market leaders who understand the needs of their residents and who actively cater to their needs. This is a very hands-on approach, which is vastly different from most traditional landlords.
7. Sustainable Living
The trend toward eco-friendly living has become very popular in recent years. Many people who live in urban areas have found that co-living provides them with an easy way to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily lives.
8. Personal & Professional Development
Living with people who are pursuing similar goals can help push you further than you thought possible by being surrounded with constant sources of support and inspiration. You'll learn from each other's successes and failures—and be able to celebrate those achievements together!
9. Enhance Wellbeing
Co-living communities tend to be very inclusive environments, which means they can also be great places to meet new people, spend time being social, or get support after a hard day at work!
10. Location
While renting an apartment near your local university or city centre can seem impossible, co-living means sharing the costs, making it more affordable. With co-living, the best locations now have viable accommodation options.
Why co-living is gaining popularity in the UK
Co-living isn’t just an affordable housing solution but is also a lifestyle choice that many people are making.
A recent survey by the Global Commercial Real Estate Services (GCRE) found that changes in working patterns, an increasing need for community, and the emergence of the sharing economy have made people rethink their living environments.
The survey also noted that tenants found co-living spaces are better managed than traditional shared houses where private landlords are often uninterested. That’s because co-living is a type of business in itself. The better it is managed, the better the return for investors. Furthermore, flexible tenancies and rentals inclusive of bills mean better budgeting and less risk for occupants.
Finally, more than a quarter of university students in the UK move to London and other big cities after graduation. Buying or renting in a city centre can be very expensive and often unaffordable for recent graduates. Co-living is a great way to afford an incredible lifestyle while gaining instant access to friends and networking opportunities.
Researchers expect to see a sharp increase in the demand for co-living spaces over the next few years.
What's Next in Your Co-Living Journey?
If co-living sounds like something you’d be interested in, why not visit one of our homes. Contact Redwood Co-Living to arrange a viewing today. We’d love to hear from you!