co-living

What is Coliving? A Complete Guide to Modern Shared Living Spaces

Alethea

• 5 min read
What is Coliving? A Complete Guide to Modern Shared Living Spaces
What is Coliving?

Living in Singapore can be both exciting and challenging, especially with the fast-paced lifestyle and high cost of living. As a Singapore resident, finding a balance between work, social life, and personal well-being is crucial. Imagine a coliving arrangement that not only offers you convenience and affordability but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration. This innovative approach to urban living could be the perfect solution to enhance your lifestyle in the Lion City.

But, what exactly is coliving? Here is a detailed explanation for you!

What is Coliving?

Co-living is a way of living where residents rent private rooms and share common spaces like kitchens, living rooms, and dining areas. It focuses on community, making it easier for residents to connect and collaborate, unlike traditional rentals where tenants live separately with little interaction.

Co-living spaces are typically fully furnished and include essentials such as Wi-Fi, cleaning services, and utilities in one monthly payment. This setup makes moving in simple and cost-effective while also encouraging social interaction through shared amenities and common areas.

Co-living Cost in Singapore

Co-living in Singapore typically costs SGD 800 to over SGD 3,000 per month, depending on the location and type of room. Cove sits at the more accessible end of this range, offering fully furnished homes with Wi-Fi and cleaning included, making it a cost-effective choice for those seeking comfort and convenience without hidden expenses.

Co-living is legal in Singapore and is governed by existing Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) zoning rules. Instead of its own category, co-living falls under three approved property types: Residential, Serviced Apartments, or Hotels.

  • Residential: Minimum lease of 3 months, maximum of 6 unrelated tenants per home, and units must be at least 35 sqm.
  • Serviced Apartments: Fully managed units with services like housekeeping. Require a minimum stay of 7 days, at least 35 sqm per unit, and cannot be strata-subdivided. URA may allow layouts with more shared spaces.
  • Hotels: Operate under existing hotel regulations with no special rules on size or lease duration.

This approach ensures co-living remains safe, legal, and well-regulated while giving operators flexibility to design vibrant shared living spaces. With trusted operators like Cove, all properties are fully compliant, move-in ready, and designed to make community living safe and stress-free.

Pros of Co-living

Co-living provides flexible leases, furnished rooms, and shared amenities like Wi-Fi, cleaning, and gyms, making it an affordable and convenient housing option for students and young professionals.

It also creates a sense of community while reducing costs by sharing spaces and services. This allows residents to live in central locations and access high-quality accommodation that might otherwise be unaffordable, making co-living popular in major cities around the world.

Cons of Co-living

Co-living can mean less privacy and limited control over your living space. Residents need to share amenities, compromise on habits, and clean common areas. Conflicts may happen when people have different schedules or lifestyles. Co-living is mostly found in big cities, and high demand can make popular options harder to get.

It can also be challenging because it requires strong communication and cooperation. Residents must follow shared rules, resolve issues quickly, and be comfortable with a community-focused lifestyle. This setup is best for those who value convenience and social interaction over full independence.

Co-living vs Traditional Rental

Traditional rentals require tenants to arrange furniture, utilities, and upkeep, while co-living offers fully furnished homes with services included in one monthly bill.

At Cove, our rates include premium furnishings, leases with flexible lengths of stay, weekly housekeeping, vibrant community circle, and exclusive perks from brand partners, which are not available in the traditional rental market. Yet, thanks to the fact that as a tenant there is an element of sharing, in absolute terms our prices can be much lower compared to renting a studio or entire apartment.

Co-living vs Roommates

Co-living offers private rooms in a shared home with furniture, utilities, Wi-Fi, and cleaning included, making it a hassle-free choice. Traditional roommate setups are usually informal, requiring tenants to coordinate bills, furnishings, and house chores themselves.

Co-living is also built around community, with shared spaces and events designed to help residents connect, while traditional roommate living is more about splitting rent and sharing a home without structured social support. This makes co-living ideal for those seeking both convenience and connection.

Co-living spaces are concentrated in these key neighborhoods:

These locations combine convenience, character, and easy access to public transport, making co-living a smart choice across Singapore.

Rising Popularity of Co-Living Spaces in Singapore

According to EdgeProp in their article, Singapore’s maturing co-living sector draws more investor interest (July, 2023), there are currently around 20 active co-living operators managing over 9,000 co-living rooms in Singapore. The co-living sector is seeing a steady rise, with an additional 800 units expected to enter the market by Q3 2023 and potentially 2,100 by year end.

We see a very significant increase in interest and demand for co-living spaces, especially among young working professionals and international students. As cities like Singapore continue to grow and urbanize, there is persistent pressure on housing availability and affordability, and co-living presents a viable solution to this challenge. Co-living spaces like Cove often offer more affordable rental options compared to traditional apartments, making it attractive to young people who are cost-conscious.

Are there regulations to consider before choosing a coliving space?

In general, one needs to have a basic level of tolerance for others, as well as good manners particularly in terms of hygiene and tidiness. At Cove we try to set expectations at the start, including matchmaking where possible between prospective and existing tenants. We also have clear and fair house rules by which our tenants need to abide, including policies and escalations for circumstances of potential conflict. Our friendly Tenant Experience team is also on hand both physically and digitally, to help resolve any dispute as well as give advice where necessary. We also use tools such as our app to foster easier communications between tenants of the same units or buildings.

How Good is it to live in Coliving?

We've managed 300+ properties with 5,000+ rooms in total and served 105,000 tenants. Here are some great testimonies from our tenants:

At Cove, we strive to make housing simple and easy. We took care of all the challenges that Royston might have faced in finding a house, allowing him to focus on the things he enjoys. We're proud to hear he struck gold with his housemates and truly enjoys living with us.

Our dining area is a favorite spot for many residents like Mandy. With its high ceilings, abundant natural light, and ample space, it offers a perfect environment for hanging out. Residents enjoy using this versatile space as a co-working area, and it’s a hub for fun activities like working out, cooking, and hosting dinner parties together.

Ready to experience the best coliving in Singapore?

Join the lively community at Cove today and experience the comfort of fully furnished rooms, complete with weekly housekeeping. Enjoy the flexibility our contracts offer, tailored for your convenience. Cove offers a coliving experience like no other. Visit our website or contact us now to find your perfect home!

Find your Co-living Room!