Communal living has become a popular form of housing among young professionals and students alike within recent years. There are numerous benefits to this modern housing type, with affordability being a major one for many tenants.
Coliving can be a broad term encompassing communal housing from dormitory living to adapted single-family homes to rural communes. Many tenants in shared homes find themselves building a strong community, some even forming lifelong friendships.
In today’s ever-growing sharing economy, it only makes sense that young people everywhere are embracing the concept of sharing their homes. According to the U.S. Census, the number of people aged 18-34 living alone has been steadily decreasing over the past two decades.
While there are plenty of pros and cons to coliving, jumping into any new housing situation can be nerve-racking. For people who have only ever lived alone or with family members, communal housing can be a big jump. Here are 4 tips for a successful coliving experience.
Communication Is Key
As with any relationship, your connection to your roommates will benefit from healthy, frequent communication. Building trust is essential to a successful coliving situation. This can be done by setting boundaries, embracing direct communication, being a good listener, and simply getting to know each other. Plenty of roommate conflicts arise as a result of miscommunication, so working on those skills from the start is a great way to avoid any tension within the home.
Used with permission from Massuco Warner
Keep It Clean
Nobody likes coming home to a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. While you don’t have to be a neat freak, keeping common areas tidy is a basic form of respect for your fellow housemates. Cleaning up after yourself is a great way make everyone happy.
While some coliving leases may actually include professional cleaning services, cleaners can only do so much. Many tenants find a chore wheel or a similar chart can be helpful to ensure everyone pitches in an equal amount when it comes to tidying up.
Set (and Respect) House Rules
By setting basic rules for the home, you can prevent future conflicts from arising. Abiding by mutually agreed-upon policies will make your roommates feel respected and comfortable. Simple policies regarding things like guests, noise, smoking, and privacy create structure within the home.
Have Fun
Coliving can build strong, healthy relationships. By organizing weekly game nights, dinners, movie screenings, or other regular hangouts, your community can grow even stronger. Setting aside some time for fun is a great way to relieve stress and get to know the people you live with. While you don’t have to be best friends with each of your roommates, a little bit of friendliness goes a long way.
Communal living is a great way to utilize vacant rooms, save money, and build a community. As a rejection of traditional studio housing for single young adults, communal housing is also an effective way to combat loneliness. It’s no wonder more people are opting to live in a shared home every year. By following a few basic rules of etiquette, coliving can be a highly rewarding experience. Thanks to Tripalink for consulting.
