Living Differently

I recently moved into a coliving building, and it has fundamentally changed how I think about what home means. Not because of the cinema room or the gym – though both are excellent – but because I feel like I belong here. This building doesn’t just house me; it welcomes me.

Rethinking Residential

Traditional residential property management is transactional: provide a unit, maintain the building, collect the rent, respond when something breaks. Efficient. And increasingly, insufficient.

In 2022, nearly half of adults in the UK reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always. Approximately 7.1% experience chronic loneliness – feeling lonely ‘often or always’, according to The Campaign to End Loneliness. These aren’t just statistics; they represent millions living in homes where walls provide shelter but not connection.

We’ve already seen this evolution in how we work. Coworking revolutionised commercial real estate by recognising that people need to feel part of something larger. Now, residential real estate is following suit.

The Hospitality Lens

The best coliving operators borrow from hospitality, not traditional landlords. They understand that residents remember how they feel when they walk through the door. Whether they know their neighbours. If anyone notices when they’ve had a rough week.

Our community host greets residents by name and remembers conversations from weeks ago. New residents are welcomed with thoughtfully organised events – not awkward forced mixers, but genuine gatherings that make newcomers feel immediately part of something.

The communal kitchen encourages conversation by design. Counter heights invite people to linger. The layout means you naturally interact while cooking. Strangers become friends over chopped vegetables because someone thought carefully about how space shapes behaviour.

Spaces That Serve Every Need

The variety of spaces designed for different aspects of life strikes me most.

Need absolute focus? There’s a dedicated quiet coworking space with phone booths. Prefer social working? The lobby offers abundant open seating. Between calls? The communal kitchen becomes an informal meeting place. Need to decompress? Choose between the games room, cinema room, karaoke rooms, yoga studio, or gym. Want fresh air? The garden bar awaits.

Each space serves a distinct purpose, recognising that lives aren’t compartmentalised. We need spaces that support all our modes throughout the day.

Digital Integration That Actually Helps

The building’s app facilitates community. A residents’ forum enables people to share recommendations, offer help, and build connections. The digital platform doesn’t replace human interaction; it enables it.

When maintenance is needed, response is remarkably fast. This brand new building – a conversion of a historic hotel – is in excellent condition. But when issues arise, they’re addressed with attention that reinforces genuine care.

The Business Case

This isn’t just about creating warm feelings – though that matters when nearly half the population reports feeling lonely. It’s sound business strategy.

My building is the third location for this operator, proving the model works. Residents from earlier locations renewed because leaving meant losing community, not just convenience. Word-of-mouth drives occupancy more effectively than traditional marketing.

In an increasingly commoditised market, experience becomes the differentiator. Just as flexible workspace providers disrupted commercial real estate by prioritising community, coliving is doing the same for residential.

Beyond Coliving

These principles extend everywhere. Build-to-rent developments, student accommodation, senior living, luxury apartments – every sector faces the same question: are we providing units, or creating homes?

Just imagine if property tours focused on how life feels here rather than granite worktops. If onboarding meant introducing neighbours, not just handing over keys. If lease renewals included conversations about improving experience.

Every touchpoint becomes an opportunity. Maintenance demonstrates care. Communications build community. Shared spaces become stages for life to unfold.