Say goodbye to traditional flat sharing and hello to coliving! This real estate trend has been shaking up the housing rules in France for the past few years. From Paris to Lyon, through Marseille and many other cities, a few companies like Colivys are leading the way by offering students and young professionals a new way of living. More in tune with your desires for flexibility, community, and savings, coliving is based on one principle: simplicity. You get your own room in a shared apartment, where rent, utilities, and services are all included in one single amount. No more end-of-month surprises!
This concept attracts those looking to balance professional life and social encounters, without sacrificing their need for personal space and budget. Coliving promises a balance between your private life and your need for sociability. Common areas are perfect for hosting movie nights, shared dinners, or even brainstorming sessions. Anything is possible.
So, if the idea of living a collective adventure while having your own space appeals to you, this article about the world of coliving is for you. Learn more about:
- What coliving is
- How this new form of housing meets the expectations of a generation looking for something different
- In which cities coliving is taking root
- The future of coliving
Coliving, a new form of cohabitation
While coliving and flatsharing might seem similar on paper, there are actually some notable differences between the two.
Forget about just sharing a kitchen or bathroom: coliving offers much more than that. The very principle of coliving is based on sharing and independence. You might wonder how these two can be combined? We have the answer! While most coliving accommodations provide rooms with private bathrooms, they also offer communal areas where tenants can gather, interact, and get to know each other. Terraces, rooftops, gardens, communal rooms with games, and coworking spaces are just a few of the living areas that distinguish coliving from traditional flatsharing.
Unlike flatsharing, coliving offers a complete package. Targeted towards young professionals in transition, students, freelancers, or young permanent employees, coliving adapts to their needs. So, there’s no need to subscribe to a six-month internet plan or earn three times the monthly rent. Coliving is the simplest way to have a home in no time. If you fit this profile, know that coliving is as flexible as you are. Whether you want to stay in your accommodation for 3, 6, 12 months, or longer, you’re sure to find the coliving space that’s right for you. And most importantly, it’s the most practical way to meet people who are both different and similar to you at one of the events organized by the agency or company managing your coliving space. So, here’s to new friends and maybe more 🥰
Why choosing coliving?
If you’re still undecided between traditional renting, flatsharing, or coliving, we have answers to your questions—or at least, insights to help you make your decision.
Let’s be honest, if you don’t like community living to the point it repels you, then coliving might not be for you. But if you’ve ended up on our site, it’s likely because you enjoy being surrounded by people and community life doesn’t scare you. This is actually one of coliving’s main attractions. We mentioned earlier: events of all kinds can be organized by the managing company so that tenants from different backgrounds and coliving environments can meet and share moments together.
That’s not the only benefit. Your finances stay healthy because you don’t have to add all the extra expenses typically associated with traditional renting such as utility account setups, internet service installations, home insurance, or even furnishing the place—which can add up, especially if you’re only staying short-term. With Colivys, you enter into a furnished community living arrangement where everything is included in your monthly rent!
Another advantage of coliving with Colivys is proximity to everyday conveniences. Because your comfort is our priority, we ensure our coliving homes are located in city centers, just minutes away from subways, buses, commuter trains, and trams. This allows you to enjoy your new life without spending hours commuting and to easily grab food, dine out, or go shopping in no time.
Coliving, like other lifestyles, isn’t for everyone, that’s for sure. However, what we can say is that many people enjoy their experience. Indeed, when arriving from a foreign country or even a distant city, it can be challenging to find your bearings, discover the right spots, and make friends, especially if you’re working alone. But with coliving, you have your anchor point.
Whether in Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, or Bordeaux, many former tenants have expressed their joy in choosing coliving for their Erasmus semester or to kickstart their active life. By participating in various afterworks organized, they were able to meet the Colivys teams, seek valuable daily life advice, and share great moments. Moments that extended beyond these events, forging real friendships and sometimes even more. Some of our residents decided to start a life together—some even got married!
Where to find coliving accommodations in France?
In recent years, coliving has been expanding throughout France, in both major cities and their surrounding areas.
At Colivys, we have chosen to establish ourselves solely in France’s major cities: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lille, and Grenoble. Why? Because these are the cities where young professionals settle to start their careers. These are tense zones; the real estate market is tough. Housing is scarce and very expensive. Cities are bustling, and it can be difficult to meet new people. Coliving serves as a connector among all these individuals who are just looking to spend wonderful months in the city of their choice.
Whether it’s a house with a garden and gym or an apartment with an incredible rooftop terrace, all types of properties are available in coliving to meet the needs and expectations of the colivers.
The future of coliving
Modern society tends to close in on itself. Loneliness is a scourge affecting both young people and seniors alike. It’s no coincidence that coliving spaces are proliferating. Residences, apartments, and houses are springing up like mushrooms, enabling all their occupants to benefit from shared housing. Intergenerational coliving, for single-parent families, with themes around cooking or cinema: numerous community-focused offers of various types are emerging.
Whether for investors or future residents of these homes, the traditional housing model is being turned on its head. So, could this be the end of traditional rentals for one or two people? It remains to be seen, but at Colivys, we are certain that coliving has a bright future ahead, even as new concepts like flexliving emerge. This shift indicates a significant transformation in how we view and engage with our living environments, potentially making coliving a lasting trend in the face of societal isolation.
