What is Co-Living and why is it the next best thing in renting?

Here at urbanbubble, we are the torchbearers in a new up and coming way of living. Introducing… Co-living, a novel concept in the UK rental housing market that is rapidly gaining traction. This innovative housing model features compact studio apartments complemented by extensive communal spaces, including kitchens, dining rooms, cinema rooms, games rooms, and co-working areas. As an emerging sector, co-living is poised to revolutionise urban living.

We sat down with George Ahye, Head of Co-Living at urbanbubble, to talk about why Co-Living is the new best way to rent.

Co-living is not just a trend; it is a vital component of the UK’s housing strategy. Currently urbanbubble manages 3 co-living sites in London: Florence Dock, The Palm House, & Sunday Mills. Each community harbours working professionals in compact luxury studio apartments surrounded by amazing amenities. Each site boasts cinema rooms, gyms, co-working spaces, TV lounges, games rooms and in-house bars.

With a pressing need to deliver more housing, co-living offers a scalable solution backed by institutional capital. This financial support enables large-scale developments, making co-living a cost-effective option for city dwellers. Compared to traditional city centre rentals or less private HMOs, co-living provides excellent value for money. For investors, co-living is unlocking significant development opportunities, particularly in London. The current market conditions make it challenging for developers to achieve financial viability, but co-living projects are proving to be a game-changer. By facilitating more housing developments, co-living is contributing to the overall housing supply.

Co-living is also an environmentally friendly option. With more people living in compact studios, the per-person environmental footprint is reduced. Many co-living schemes involve refurbishing existing buildings, which is more sustainable than new constructions. Additionally, co-living operators often include all bills in the rent, coupled with fair usage policies. This model encourages residents to be mindful of their energy consumption, supported by regular communication and engagement on environmental impact. But on top of this, Co-living sites are having an amazing impact on the communities surrounding them, regularly holding events that help support vulnerable people and raising money for charity.