Many young professionals in London are opting for co-living spaces post-graduation, driven by skyrocketing rents averaging £2,633 a month. These modern alternatives to traditional housing offer amenities like gyms, cinemas, and social activities, fostering a sense of community. With a significant spike in co-living options, including Folk’s three London sites, residents appreciate the flexibility of short-term leases and all-inclusive fees. As communal living counters isolation prevalent in today’s society, it attracts a diverse demographic, particularly those seeking connection. However, co-living isn’t universally accessible, as it caters largely to specific income brackets amidst a broader rental crisis.
Noisy, cramped, chaotic. These words will certainly come to mind when you remember cramming all of your life’s belongings into a tiny room and confronting the hideous communal kitchen in your university hall.
And while the experience wasn’t all bad for many, it’s probably not one most people would want to repeat.
That’s why it may be surprising that many young professionals are choosing to continue choosing student-style co-living spaces after graduation.
London’s soaring rents, which now average £2,633 a month, have forced many people out of traditional house shares to include gyms, cinemas, rooftop terraces and even socializing opportunities all included in the rent. Heading towards the “co-living” building.
More and more adults are avoiding typical studio homes, which are less than 20 square meters and cost more than £1,775, in more central locations.
But people are paying more for community, location, and the convenience of being free from the pressure of spending months looking for a property or finding one on the spot.
“The way we find love, the way we eat, the way we bank and travel have all changed, but renting is the same as it was 60 years ago,” says Paul Naylor, general manager of award-winning brand Fork. . He told Femail that he boasts three co-living hubs across London.
“We accept the same old, tired rental housing, the same unresponsive landlords, and the same boring managers and fee-paying obligations we have seen for decades.”
This type of communal living, offered by Folk, which has three locations across London, offers residents the opportunity to socialize in common areas such as the rooftop terrace (pictured).
All three Folk sites have shared facilities including a gym and in-house cinema (pictured)
And that’s not to mention the daunting struggle London renters face finding their first place to live.
Competition for rental properties has become so intense that last year, prospective tenants competed against 15 other prospective tenants, according to data collected for the BBC.
Despite this bleak backdrop, the co-living sector is steadily growing, with relatively new brands rapidly snapping up buildings across the capital.
Folk’s competitors include Gravity Co-Living, which was founded in 2017 and recently opened its seventh London site in West Hampstead.
Estate agent Savills told the Evening Standard that the co-living sector has actually tripled since 2019.
Savills confirmed that London currently has 2,820 co-living beds, accounting for 82 per cent of the national market, with a further 9,000 planned. However, it would be a mistake to think that the increasing popularity of communal living is simply due to a lack of traditional accommodation.
Rather, Folk’s Paul Naylor gets to the heart of it, saying it’s important to be part of a community.
With bases in Battersea (Florence Docks), Harrow (The Palm House) and Earlsfield (Sunday Mills), Folk “ensures the freedom to feel completely at home” while “developing relationships through its roster of organized activities”. We encourage the construction of
Studios come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all have fully equipped kitchenettes and private bathrooms.
Emmanuel (pictured), 31, who works as a performer in the entertainment industry, lives with his partner Joanne, 42, on Florence Dock estate in the Forks of Battersea.
Events “range from weekly running clubs and cinema nights to special fitness and cooking classes,” Paul explained.
He added: “Each event has been very well received, with most events reaching full capacity.”
In addition, all three sites have a gym, co-working space, rooftop terrace, cinema room and shared kitchen, while the Earlsfield and Battersea sites have fitness studios, private dining rooms and games rooms.
And the promise of a ready-made community is one of the factors that makes co-living so appealing to many residents.
Emmanuel, 31, who works as a performer in the entertainment industry, has worked twice at The Folk’s Florence Dock venue in Battersea.
Born in Iraq, he grew up in Australia and now shares a studio overlooking the River Thames with his partner Joanne, 42.
For Emmanuel and Joan, living together is, as he puts it, “amazing” and “really working.”
Florence Dock is “like a luxury version of a boarding school, and instead of shabby dormitories you have luxurious hotel rooms with private kitchens and wall-to-wall plasma screen TVs,” he added.
“You meet really cool, random people. Some are super successful, some are on the rise, and some just want to relax and escape life for whatever reason.”
Abi (pictured), 21, works as an accountant and lives with his girlfriend at The Palm House in Harlow.
Many residents are drawn to communal living, which promises ready community and social opportunities.
The couple, who have been staying for about six months now, have made friends while living at Florence Docks, with Emmanuel meeting people while playing X-Box in one of the common areas and Joanne We started a conversation at a coworking space.
And a ‘special’ location in central London with views over the River Thames can be theirs for much less than in neighboring countries.
Emmanuel, who pays £2,400 a month for the largest room available at Florence Dock, said: “We also have flats on the Thames in front of us for four, five, six grand a month.” he said.
“We’re not paying anywhere near that price, and we get views of the city and river, so it’s an anomaly.”
In addition to the views, Emmanuel and Joan also enjoy the many restaurants nearby and the on-site facilities, including a gym, home cinema, and theater.
Emmanuel said with enthusiasm:[Florence Dock] is just one of those really great concepts. You have everything you want in your own apartment, but you don’t have to pay extra.
“I think this is genius when you consider what you get and the price you pay.”
Residents are equally attracted to the practical convenience of co-living, such as paying rent, and the flexibility of length of stay. There are also options for those who want a compact studio with a kitchenette, or a place with a larger communal kitchen.
Co-living sites tend to have state-of-the-art communal kitchens and serve as social hubs where residents cook and eat together.
In addition to the standard kitchenette in all studios, there is also a shared kitchen.
Paul added: “Residents pay an all-inclusive monthly fee. Unlike a typical 12-month rental agreement, residents have the flexibility to move for as little as three months or more without a deposit. It is possible,” he added.
But while the convenience of Florence Dock is important, it clearly won’t prevent us from revisiting the Emmanuel.
Rather, he and Joan are sold communal living as a “beautiful” antidote to common social problems caused, at least in part, by the individualistic nature of modern life.
“What happened during the coronavirus and the pandemic, the separation of humanity, made us forget how to be social,” he added.
“We forgot how to be kind in many ways, we forgot how to support each other, we forgot how to communicate with each other.”
But while it’s heartwarming, it also raises questions about who communal living is really for.
But while it may sound like it’s only for extroverts, General manager Paul insists there is no social pressure.
Citing a recent survey conducted by Falk, he said it was sad that residents loved “the freedom and opportunity to socialize without feeling forced to socialize if you don’t want to.” said.
Folks and other communal living spaces offer residents a variety of activities, but people also organize social activities for their friends and other residents.
The average age in Forks is 31 years old and the majority of residents (86%) are single, so it’s no wonder residents are looking for a vibrant lifestyle as well as a place to sleep.
Karaoke nights are one of the most popular activities, where residents gather in the communal kitchen and sing their favorite songs.
But with Fork’s young average age of 31 and the majority of residents (86%) single, it’s no surprise that connecting with others is high on the priority list for many. there is no.
Abi, a 21-year-old accountant living at The Palm House in Harrow, the first folk site to open in March 2022, may be on the younger end of the spectrum, but she’s just as passionate about living communally for the sake of ‘community’. The commute you choose is also an easy 10 minute commute.
“I met so many nice people from so many different backgrounds that I knew this was the right place,” Abi said.
Of all Forks residents, 25 percent come from overseas and 44 percent come from the United Kingdom.
“People come from all walks of life, but they all want the same thing: community, and that’s honestly why I’m here.
“If you’re having a bad day, there’s someone you can talk to. It doesn’t have to be a designated mental health supervisor. It can just be a neighbor or friend.”
Abi lives with her partner and together they pay a total monthly rent of £1,753, which includes a £200 double occupancy fee.
Extra storage space would be nice, but with a movie theater next door, a gym down the hall, a shared kitchen, and a rooftop terrace, The Palm House is well worth it.
“No matter where you walk, you’ll always find something to do and someone to chat to in the communal kitchen,” he added.
“Everyone here has youth and an ambition to connect with others.”
But he has one complaint. It means that the shared washing machine is not maintained by other residents.
Still, the number of close friends he’s made since moving in more than makes up for the carelessness of some residents.
Abhi recalled: “Nine of us took a trip to Manchester in February. We drove there and shared an AirBnB. It was a great experience traveling and exploring together.
“You may make lifelong friends. If you’re an introvert, you may become an extrovert by the end of your tenancy.”
There is no doubt that coliving is not suitable for everyone. Also, given the fact that co-living is only available to people in certain income brackets, it is a stretch to think that it is a fundamental solution to the rental crisis.
But in today’s individualistic society, where loneliness is on the rise, we shouldn’t underestimate how communal living fosters community and fosters connection.