Have you just moved to a new city and now you are looking for your new home? It can be difficult to find the right property for you, especially in a new city. What type of accommodation would suit your needs and desires? Which one would fit your lifestyle and budget? What is it like to live with a flatmate? What are your rights? There are many different solutions available to you: from student residences, to traditional rentals, to shared accommodation or even a room in a private home.
Of course, these solutions are not suitable for all types of profiles, but if you need help in your research, there are companies that can help you. If you choose to rent a flat or studio on your own, you can use a traditional estate agency. You may also be tempted to rent a room in a shared apartment. This is the best way to settle in for a medium or long stay, and to meet new people. If you are lost or have a little amount of time, there are agencies that are specialised in renting and living in a shared flat. They take the burden off the landlord to let you visit the apartment, and take care of you from the moment you arrive until you leave.
You are in the right place to learn more about the differences between these two types of agencies.
What is a shared-rental agency?
It is important to know how to differentiate between a shared-rental agency and a traditional estate agency. A shared-rental agency is a company that specialises in putting future roommates in touch with each other. They act as an intermediary between landlords, who are looking to rent their property, and the future roommates who will live there.
They exclusively offer rooms for rent in shared apartments and houses, or in properties with communal living. Shared-rental agencies help potential housemates to find a suitable home, arrange viewings, carry out background checks on prospective tenants, manage tenancy agreements (also known as leases), and provide property management services such as maintenance and upkeep.
They are useful for people looking to share accommodation with other housemates, and are there to support anyone who does not have the time or knowledge to manage all aspects of finding a housemate and managing a shared property. Roommate agencies can be particularly useful for people who are moving to a new city and who are unfamiliar with the different areas or housing options available. They mostly take the form of online sites to match the lifestyles of their prospective tenants. This simplifies their offer and allows them to appeal to all types of audience, whether they are abroad or not.
As with traditional rental offers, the room for rent offers are detailed and accompanied by attractive photos. They gather all the necessary information for the future tenant to plan and choose to move into the room: photos of the room from different angles, photos of the shared flat or house, the number of roommates already present, etc. They offer shared property, just like the single lease contract that binds the flatmates together, with a solidarity clause. Likewise, they must also respect the civil code or the law of 6 July 1989 governing shared accommodation.
What is a real estate agent?
In contrast, an estate agency is a company specialising in the purchase, sale, rental and management of real estate, such as houses, flats, commercial buildings, land, etc. They are multidimensional and are often run by real estate professionals, such as estate agents, real estate brokers or independent real estate agents.
Unlike agencies specialising in shared accommodation, they offer a variety of services to their clients: property search, estimating the value of a property, negotiating the terms of a property transaction, managing legal documentation, organising viewings and inspections, and managing the rental property.
Estate agents can be useful for those looking to buy, for landlords looking to sell a property, and for landlords looking to rent or manage their rental property. Real estate agents can provide expert advice on property market trends, financing conditions, negotiations, and other aspects of buying, selling or managing property.
The difference between the two types of agency
The main difference between real estate agencies and shared-rental agencies is the type of services they offer.
Real estate agencies focus on buying, selling and managing real estate such as houses, flats, commercial buildings, land, etc. Real estate agents can help buyers and sellers navigate through real estate transactions, provide property valuations, arrange meetings and arrange for the sale of properties. They can help buyers and sellers navigate property transactions, provide property valuations, arrange viewings, negotiate the terms of the agreement, manage the legal and administrative aspects of the transaction, and provide property management services for owners.
On the other hand, roommate agencies focus on matching prospective tenants looking to share a home. Roommate agencies can help potential roommates find accommodation that meets their needs, arrange viewings, conduct background checks on potential roommates, manage rental agreements, and provide property management services such as maintenance and upkeep.
Depending on the needs of their clients, estate agents and flat-sharing agencies may have similarities, such as property management and lease signing, and work on common lines. Both also have a role as landlords, intermediaries between landlords and tenants. Below is a table summarising the main differences between the two types of agency:
| Real Estate Agency | Shared-Rental Agency |
| Property buying | Connecting potential roommates |
| Property selling | Lease management |
| Property managing | Organisation of visits |
| Property valuation | Management of shared properties (maintenance, upkeep) |
| Organisation of visits | |
| Negotiation | |
| Management of the legal and administrative aspects of the transaction | |
| Property management (trustee, etc.) | |
| Lease management |
Coliving, the solution to be 100% independent
Coliving is a trendy housing option that emerged in the early 2000s in the United States. It is a shared housing solution that allows people to live in a communal environment while having their own private space. Whether flat or house, shared spaces such as kitchen, living room, bathroom and sometimes even other spaces such as gyms, coworking or leisure spaces are rented fully equipped. The private spaces are individual rooms. They are also furnished and rented fully equipped so that new tenants can start their stay with peace of mind.
Coliving can be an attractive solution for people (students, executives, digital nomads, young professionals, singles, couples and cohabitants) who are looking for a more independent lifestyle, but who do not want to sacrifice the possibility of living in a dynamic and supportive community. In contrast to traditional shared accommodation, coliving provides financial independence to its tenants. Indeed, the lease is individual and specific to each tenant. The lease does not include any solidarity clause binding the tenants to each other. Each tenant can leave as he or she sees fit, without the others being obliged to pay the remaining share of the rent. The lease has a flexible notice period, which allows tenants to stay in their coliving unit for a few years, or to leave after a few months.
Coliving spaces often offer community experiences, events and networking opportunities for tenants, which can be particularly beneficial for people looking to meet new people and make new friends. In addition, coliving can be a cost-effective solution for colivers (coliving tenants) looking to live in high-demand areas, such as city centers. The rent includes all rental charges. Rental costs and utilities are shared between the colivers, making coliving spaces more affordable than renting a single unit.
To continue with the idea of making life easier for the tenant, coliving also offers additional services that traditional estate agents do not offer to their clients. Indeed, tenants have the possibility to carry out virtual and digitalized inventories of fixtures, to have a week’s worth of food delivered to them to start their stay or to have a private driver on arrival to take them to their new coliving flat.
However, it is important to note that coliving is not for everyone. People who need a private and quiet space to work or rest may find coliving noisy or too busy. In addition, roommates must be willing to respect the rules of the community and share the common space responsibly for coliving to work well.
