Pros and Cons of Living in a Collective or Co-Housing Community
What is a collective?
Living in a collective refers to a type of housing where several individuals or families live under the same roof—usually in a house, but it could also be in an apartment or other dwelling.
What typically characterizes a collective is that the residents share the costs of living as well as the responsibilities related to maintaining the home and its facilities. In a collective, it's common to share the bathroom, kitchen, and possibly the living room.
Collectives also often share expenses related to food, group activities, and sometimes even childcare.
What is a co-housing community?
In a co-housing community, people usually live in separate units or homes but still embrace a sense of community—such as by sharing facilities, chores, a communal house, or outdoor spaces. A co-housing community is more like a small village, where social connection is prioritized more than on a typical residential street. Co-housing is therefore more private than collective living, even though you still enjoy being social. Many sustainable co-housing communities have been established where people dine together and strive for a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Benefits of living with others
As mentioned, living in a collective or co-housing community has once again become popular. These communities can be made up of all sorts of people. In today’s world, loneliness is a major issue, and many people live alone. Living with others can help—both socially and financially. Some people choose shared living because it's cheaper and they enjoy the company. Some parents prefer living with other families so their children can grow up and play together. They can also help each other with childcare and cooking. Many young people are interested in collective living, where everything is shared and there’s always someone to hang out with. Some of the advantages of collective or co-housing living include financial savings and help with everyday tasks. You should ideally be socially inclined, but you don’t have to be social all the time. You can always close your door if you need privacy. Some families also choose co-housing because they want to live close to others, without sharing a roof.
Want to start a collective?
If you're thinking about starting a collective, you should first consider what kind of collective you want. Why do you want to live this way? Should the group share certain values? It’s also a good idea to consider how many residents you want—although this may depend on the size of the property you find. It’s smart to have conversations with potential housemates before committing, especially when you'll be sharing a lot. Align expectations around community living, cleaning, responsibilities, visitors, etc. And make sure all rental agreements are clear and in place. Starting a collective as a student can also be beneficial. You’ll save money by living with others, and it might be easier to find a large apartment in a popular city to share. One- to three-bedroom apartments are in high demand, so you might have better luck finding a four- or five-bedroom place to split. You can also share utility bills, TV and internet costs, and cleaning supplies.
Tips for your future collective
To make your collective a success, here are some recommendations:
- Look for large rental apartments or houses. These are usually easier to share and offer more square meters, which means greater savings.
- Find roommates with the same goals for collective living as you. If you want to live in a sustainable way, find others who feel the same. Decide how often you’ll eat together and whether you'll have group activities.
- Stay on top of finances—it can be tricky with multiple people. You might consider appointing one person to manage the budget, ensure bills are paid on time, and keep an overview.
- Create a house agreement outlining rules for shared spaces. This could include party policies, visitor guidelines, cleaning schedules, etc.
Pros and cons?
Living with others can be incredibly enriching. You become close, share your life, and have a social community right outside your door. The benefits go beyond financial savings—it’s socially rewarding. It’s healthy to live with others and practice compromise.
On the downside, if you struggle with shared living or prefer solitude, co-housing may not be for you. If you need a lot of structure, living with many people might feel chaotic. Consider whether this lifestyle would be healthy and beneficial for you. If it doesn’t work out, you can always move again.
We wish you the best of luck in finding your future collective!
