coliving

Coliving is a housing arrangement in which individuals share a residence, combining private bedrooms with extensive common spaces such as kitchens, living rooms, and work areas. The model emphasizes community, flexibility, and affordability, typically offered through all-inclusive rents and professional property management in urban settings.

Origins trace to urban cohabitation experiments in the early 2000s, expanding through the 2010s alongside coworking and the sharing economy. Modern coliving is usually operated by professional landlords or operators who curate resident communities, rather than informal roommate arrangements, and it adapts to local housing markets and regulations.

Rents commonly include utilities, internet, cleaning, and programming, with lease lengths ranging from short-term to one year or longer. Revenue derives from occupancy and services beyond basic housing, such as events and community management.

Typical features include private bedrooms, shared kitchens and lounges, on-site staff, housekeeping, and organized community events. Some properties offer coworking space, fitness facilities, and digital platforms for booking, messaging, and community governance.

Coliving attracts students, young professionals, freelancers, and digital nomads seeking affordability, convenience, and social networks. Motivations include cost savings, reduced maintenance, access to amenities, and opportunities for collaboration or networking.

Criticisms address privacy limitations, occasional misalignment of expectations, and higher rents in some markets. Policy concerns include housing regulation, zoning, consumer protections, and the impact of coliving on neighborhood dynamics and housing supply.

Notable operators and spaces include Common, The Collective, Ollie, and Roam, with variations in design and governance across different cities.