Would coliving be right for you?

With coliving spaces increasingly popping up around the world, you may be asking yourself what it offers and whether it would be right for you.

Outlined below are some of the key benefits of coliving today. You can ask yourself what your daily living priorities are, and see if they align with any of these central benefits and positives.

Flexibility and variety

With coliving, you have no fixed long-term contracts or a house to hold you down. This gives you flexibility to move around your city, country or even the world - moving from coliving space to coliving space. Because there are coliving spaces being built in many different places, this also offers you variety on where you can live. You could live for six months by the beach in a coastal town, spend another six months in a bustling metropolitan city and then a couple of years out in the countryside if you so choose.

Work-life balance

Our world is changing from the traditional 9-5 working week. More people are searching for an alternative to this, looking to achieve more work-life balance, and this is something coliving caters for especially. When you choose coliving, 24 hour workspaces are usually provided, meaning you have another workplace option other than the office, where you can still focus and complete tasks but through working remotely. You are also offered the flexibility to choose your hours.

Cost and access

Renting and home-owning is increasingly tough in New Zealand’s current housing climate. Rents are only getting higher and more competitive, especially in popular urban areas and cities. Buying a house is becoming out of reach for more and more people, with property prices rising, yet our earnings remaining the same. 

Coliving is working to provide a solution to this. Coliving allows you to have privacy with your own rooms, kitchenettes and private bathrooms. But you also share with others the larger primary rooms, such as living and dining areas, kitchens, and gardens. This is what lowers your costs. 

Furthermore, in most coliving spaces, electricity, internet, power and water costs are included in your rent. Alongside this, house repairs, maintenance and regular cleaning is provided. You do not have to sort any of those things out as well. The coliving space management team take responsibility, and there are no hidden extras of things you have to pay for above and beyond your rent. This offers residents consistency, convenienciny and is cost-efficient, leaving you with more time to hang out with your friends, family and the community around you, and work on doing things you love. 

Community and belonging 

Coliving IS living as a community. The core goal and focus of a coliving space is to create an environment where people feel like they are accepted and that they belong. You live and work under the same roof with like-minded individuals, learning wisdom, stories, and different perspectives.

Coliving provides a space where you can work, focus and be productive. The opportunity is there to expand your networks and connections, sharing tools, resources and knowledge with other organisations, companies and people.

Coliving also provides a space where you can play and have fun. The shared communal spaces and many catered events and activities on offer, are made to foster connection. You can sit down with a friend and chat over a cup of coffee in the lounge, cook up a potluck dinner with everyone or share ideas on a new project in a work zone. A coliving community is created to be creative, welcoming and supportive. 

Safety

Most coliving spaces have high levels of security. Staff and guests are usually screened and checked and 24-hour security cameras will be installed, maintained and monitored. Your fellow residents are also there to keep you company as well. Your coliving space is your home and is a place where you are always meant to feel safe and this is consistently upheld. 

Furthermore, coliving spaces are non-judgemental communities, welcoming all people.

Sustainability

Coliving spaces are increasingly being built using sustainable resources with a key focus on energy efficiency and reducing resident’s carbon footprint. There are often communal gardens and recycling and composting systems put in place. With the sharing of tools, and physical appliances, wastage is reduced.

What are your thoughts on coliving? Would it work for your living and working situation?