Co-living in itself is certainly nothing new. Many people that leave to go to college experience living in a shared student house. Old people often live in retirement homes with communal dining halls. It’s just the periods of your life surrounding these stages that are usually characterized by living with family or a significant other. This is slowly changing however. More and more we see young people look for professional co-living arrangements after they finish their studies. These communal living arrangements usually feature shared living rooms, bathrooms and kitchen. There are multiple driving factors behind the phenomenon. One of the most important ones is obviously money. Young professionals prefer to live in the city center and rent is high. Another reason is that young people are feeling lonely. Research suggests that in 2019 around a third of people from 25 to 35 years old felt lonely. These statistics have only increased, possibly temporary, because of Covid. For elderly, loneliness is a permanent issue that was not just highlighted due to Covid. AS such communal living can offer a social buzz as well as the feeling of being part of a small community with activities and duties in the house.
