10 Essential Co-Living Tips for First-Timers in Singapore

You’ve decided to move and live in Singapore. Whether you are here for study, work, or a new adventure. That’s a big decision! The next step waiting for you is finding a place to call home. Co-living might be the perfect choice while you’re away from your family. Co-living makes you part of the vibrant community and makes you never feel alone in this bustling city like Singapore. 

If this is your first time journey moving somewhere new and you have no idea to be a co-living resident. Don’t worry! You have landed on the right article that will give you practical tips and insights to help you navigate your first co-living experience in Singapore with ease. 

Here are some practical yet essential tips for your first-time co-living resident in Singapore:

Pick The Right Co-living Space Based On Your Needs

The needs of each co-living resident may differ, but how do you know you are choosing the right co-living space? Simply, you can focus on the location and the budget at the very beginning. The location of the co-living space directly influences rental costs. 

Consider the proximity to your office/school or nearby MRT/Bus stops. Ideally, aim for a co-living space within a 30-minute commute to your office or school. Another option, consider a co-living space that is within 10 minutes of public transportation like MRT or bus stops. Living closer to the public transportation facility could reduce your commute time and cost. 

The location you pick will determine how much budget you’ll spend on rent. The good news is when you rent a co-living space, there is nothing to worry about. Whether you pay rent monthly or yearly, your rent often includes all the amenities, furnishings, maintenance, even shared areas such as kitchen and living room to mingle with housemates. 

Co-living space offers flexible payment options to accommodate your needs whether you plan to stay for a short or long period. In the Cove co-living has rental terms starting from three months, six months, or even 12 months. This flexibility provides you with predictable monthly expenses which is a major advantage compared to usual kinds of rental arrangements. 

Understand The House Rules

Once you’ve decided to live in a co-living space, you need to understand the house rules. A co-living space is like a home, so we need to respect our housemates. Some of our housemates may work long hours or work shifts (like hospital shifts). Therefore, we must be mindful of house rules such as the quiet hours. Some co-living spaces set the quiet hours from 10 PM until 7 AM. 

What do you need to do during quiet hours? Keep noise levels down, especially by reducing music volume, and avoid having guests over during quiet hours. If you are a night owl or early riser, you can use your own headphones and move quietly to avoid disturbing others. 

One of the benefits of living in the co-living space, it provides weekly cleaning services. Keep an eye on the schedule for the cleaning services to avoid conflicts or privacy issues when the cleaner arrives. 

Introduce Yourself to Mingle with Housemates

Unlike the usual rental model, co-living spaces offer an environment to encourage community interaction. That is the reason why shared areas are available for the housemates. In Cove co-living, there are always updates on upcoming events you can join to mingle with other housemates. You can use that time to introduce yourself to make a friend, so you won’t feel alone living there. Simply saying hello or greeting housemates whenever you meet can spark new conversations, which can lead to stronger relationships in your co-living space. 

Respect The Cultural Diversity 

Singapore is not only home for Singaporeans only, but also home for Chinese, Indian, Malay, and even expat communities. In co-living spaces, you might find all of them living under the same roof. You’ll experience multicultural diversity including different diet, religious practices, and personal expectations.

This cultural diversity could encourage you to learn about other traditions and practices. For example, if you have a Muslim housemate, you will learn to respect their dietary restrictions such as not cooking non-halal food when your muslim housemate is standing beside you in the shared kitchen.

Respect Other’s Personal Space

Living in a coliving space means sharing a home with housemates who have different personalities, some may be extroverted, while others prefer more solitude. It’s important to respect their personal space. Here are some common rules to follow:

• Never enter a housemate’s private room without permission, even if the door is open. Always knock and wait for a response before entering.
• Be mindful of noise levels, especially during quiet hours.
• Don’t use or move others’ belongings without asking, even in common areas. If you share essentials, label your items to avoid confusion.

Use Shared Space Responsibly

In the co-living space, you will have shared areas such as kitchen, a dining area, a living room, and even a shared bathroom. Remember that when use these shared areas, you need to keep them clean. 

Singaporean culture strongly emphasizes cleanliness, so making a shared space messy will make other housemates uncomfortable. Besides maintaining cleanliness, be mindful of how long you occupy these spaces. Don’t make others wait too long and always ask for permission if you want to borrow their personal items. 

Here’s how you can use shared areas responsibly. If you are using the kitchen, clean up the cooking utensils immediately after use. Don’t forget to label your groceries and store them wisely to avoid taking up too much space in the fridge. 

If you are hanging out with your friends in the living area, keep the space and the equipment tidy, and avoid leaving personal items behind. If you’re using the TV or sofa, be considerate of others who might also want to use them.

If you are using a shared bathroom, limit your shower time during peak hours and clean up the bathroom after using it to respect other housemates. 

Know Your Area Around Your Co-Living Space

What makes people frustrated in moving to a new place isn’t being familiar with their neighborhood. Juggling from one place to another to find your needs can take a lot of time which is not worth doing.  To overcome this concern, you should learn about the area around your co-living space. 

Once you start living in the co-living space, take a walk around the neighborhood and find these essential places:

• Grocery store or supermarket
• Budget-friendly eating place
• 24-hour convenience stores
• MRT or bus station

Once you know where everything is, life becomes much smoother.

Resolving Conflicts Respectfully 

Living under the same roof with diverse backgrounds can lead to conflict. Sometimes, small issues matter and may trigger disagreements. So, what should you do when conflicts arise between you and your housemates?

First, try to avoid any conflicts because the local culture emphasizes maintaining harmony rather than engaging in open conflicts. Follow all the house rules and respect each other. But, if you’ve done and conflict still arises, what should you do? 

You can resolve the conflicts with your housemates calmly and propose win-win solutions. Avoid acting confrontational and focus on the main issues. If it doesn’t work and your housemate escalates the conflict, you need to contact the property manager for mediation.

Create Your Fun Events with Your Housemates

You can treat your co-living space as your home. Besides joining events hosted by other housemates. You can create your own fun events with your housemate to strengthen your relationships. 

You can host a potluck dinner to experience different cuisines from multicultural backgrounds. Sharing food is a good idea as well, it is one of the traditional ways to bond the relationship in Singapore. Another fun option is to invite housemates to watch a movie together in the living room, or set up a mini cinema on the rooftop while having a barbecue together. The exciting one is that you plan a trip together, for example to explore singapore together. Those ideas are great for everyone to connect. 

Start Your First Time Co-Living Experience in Singapore with Cove

Are you ready to apply all the practical tips above for your first  co-living experience in Singapore? Begin your first journey with Cove, the most trusted co-living in Singapore. At Cove, you’ll experience numerous benefits such as:

• Fully furnished rooms
• Housekeeping services to keep your space tidy
• Flexible contracts
• Super-fast Wi-Fi for your productivity
• Maintenance support
• Access to vibrant community events and perks

So, what are you waiting for? Find your ideal co-living space at Cove, where each unit is  strategically located and beautifully designed with you in mind.