Article updated on May 31, 2023
When it comes to moving to start a new adventure, finding your accommodation is often one of the biggest headaches you can encounter. With all types of rentals available on the market, it’s hard to find the right solution, one that will be suited to your situation and your needs. Renting a studio, joining a shared flat or a coliving arrangement are choices not to be taken lightly.
Each accommodation has its advantages and disadvantages, it all depends on your desires and needs. A shared apartment and coliving allow you to share a place with several people. Everyone has their room and shares common areas. A real community life awaits you if you choose to live in a shared flat, both physically and financially. If you dream of independence, real independence, it is always possible to rent an individual accommodation. Here, you will live alone without being accountable to anyone, except yourself and your landlord.
Still undecided? No problem, we are here to enlighten you about these very different ways of life. Discover below the advantages and disadvantages of shared accommodation and renting a studio.
The advantages and disadvantages of a studio
Renting a studio has some undeniable advantages:
- Independence
If you choose to live alone, you won’t have to deal with the pressure and desires of others. There will only be you and your opinion that matter. The advantage of this type of accommodation is that you will have your independence. Don’t feel like cleaning? That’s not a problem. Planning to invite friends? You won’t have to notify anyone (except your neighbors if the party lasts). You are independent but you have to pay the rent alone. You may even find yourself paying a lot for a very small space depending on the location chosen.
But renting a studio also has disadvantages:
- Loneliness
What can be perceived as a chance by some, because you don’t have to put up with other people, can also be a disadvantage for others. If you are afraid of loneliness, we advise you to establish some routines so that loneliness does not disrupt your daily life: call or see your loved ones 3 evenings a week or even prepare a bedtime ritual.
- Managing everything alone
Electricity bills, water leaks, washing machine not working, … These problems are just a non-exhaustive list of those you may encounter when having a home. Living in this type of accommodation, you will have to manage these problems alone. You can only count on yourself or your loved ones, but at a distance, it’s a bit more complicated.
The advantages and disadvantages of a shared accommodation
Living in a shared apartment has many undeniable advantages:
- Say goodbye to loneliness
In a shared apartment, you will never be alone again. There will always be someone to ask you how your day went, to eat with you. A shared apartment is also the perfect place to forge new friendships.
- Good value for money
A large apartment for a moderate rent? You think it’s a dream, and yet, it’s real and it has a name: shared apartment. Indeed, in a shared apartment or coliving, you can live in an apartment (or a house) that is spacious and much larger than an individual dwelling. You will have your own room and share several other rooms with your roommates. It’s a concept that will satisfy young people and students on a modest budget. It’s a good deal!
But shared apartment living also has some disadvantages:
- Putting up with others’ quirks
Living in a community has many advantages, many more than we have mentioned before. But it also has some disadvantages. Indeed, living in a shared apartment means putting up with others, with their habits and quirks on a daily basis. You will have to make concessions so that harmony remains the rule within your coliving space.
- Sharing everything
Sharing is the essence of shared apartment living. This implies sharing an entire dwelling with other people, and even “intimate” places like the bathroom or the toilet. You and your roommates will have to make some concessions so that harmony prevails. Beyond the physical aspect, roommates are often linked to each other in the lease contract. This means that if one of the roommates were to leave the accommodation, they would still be liable for their financial obligations, within a period established by the rental contract.
The advantages and disadvantages of coliving
There is a third solution that meets all your desires: coliving! A kind of improved shared apartment living, you will fall in love with this new concept. Here are some advantages that coliving offers:
- A complete solution
If coliving has one significant advantage, it’s this one. Indeed, if you opt for coliving, you will have nothing more to pay than the amount written on your rent. This rent includes rental charges (water, electricity, heating) and other charges that you normally have to pay in addition: home insurance for your accommodation and internet. In some cases, coliving also offers included activities such as gyms or cinemas, coworking spaces, etc.
- Maintaining your independence
The main advantage of coliving over any other kind of community life is summed up in independence. Indeed, unlike shared apartment living, your room will be your private space, your cocoon. Colivers are considered as unique tenants of their room. They are therefore not linked to each other, as can be the case in a shared apartment. If you choose this solution, you will also have contractual flexibility. You can be a tenant for a year or for just a few months.
Like any dwelling and lifestyle concept, coliving also has some disadvantages. Here are two that can be found in coliving:
- Not feeling at home
Coliving, like any community concept, can sometimes be stifling. You may struggle to make new acquaintances outside your home. At Colivys, we wanted to remedy this by creating a real community. Indeed, to create a bond between our colivers, we organize afterwork events every month where all our tenants from the surrounding cities can meet and forge beautiful friendships.
- Being lost in a new country
When you are foreign, you may have to move hundreds of kilometers from home. The environment differs and stress arrives you can quickly feel lost. That’s why, at Colivys, we help you even before you arrive at your apartment. Can’t open a bank account or fill out a form? We assist you with your administrative procedures. Are you arriving late and need a secure transport solution? We provide a shuttle service to take you to your new home.
So what are you waiting for to take the plunge and settle into your new coliving room? If you’re interested, discover all our offers on our dedicated page.
