News and Inspiration
Keeping it in the family
A story about intentional inter-generational house sharing. Whilst much of the talk in the UK and USA is about the problems grown up children are having in leaving home, there are an increasing number of people who are intentionally choosing to live with their parents. I spoke to Linda Hunter who set up home with…
Read MoreWhat are the advantages of house sharing?
Flexibility is one of the advantages of house sharing. It’s especially useful when unexpected life events intervene; as they tend to do more as you get older. But having been introduced to house sharing and looking ahead to our later years, the longer-term advantages of house sharing become of interest. Longer-term can mean a few…
Read MoreCan I house share with a pet?
Man’s best friend is supposed to be a dog, and a pet can make a house feel like a home, so it’s not surprising that many homes have a pet dog or cat (other pets are available). So how about sharing a house not just with a live-in owner or fellow housemate, but also with…
Read MoreThe ABCs of Helpful Housemates
Many people adding a listing on Cohabitas offer to be a ‘helpful housemate’. We’ve previously written about how helping with Cleaning, Gardening, Childcare and Cooking are frequently offered – usually for free, but being a helpful housemate is a lot broader than that. Reading the types of help offered by people, what becomes clear is…
Read MoreFlat sharing in later life is part of ageless living
More and more people are joining the ‘ageless’ trend and embracing a lifestyle that is not dictated by how we are supposed to live at certain stages of our lives. Whether that is going to festivals, sharing a flat, or deciding to take a gap year in your 50s, all point to living more freely.…
Read MoreWhat Makes a Grown-Up Flatshare
With more and more people sharing a home in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, let’s look at what makes it different from sharing as a student or young professional and why it’s becoming an attractive option for many. 1. Financial Prudence and Stability In later life, financial priorities shift from simply getting by to…
Read MoreFlat share kitchen etiquette
Managing how to share a kitchen is the most important aspect of a flat share after how to share the bathroom. The bathroom is a private place where standards of cleanliness and courtesy to others are most expected, but a kitchen is both a communal and a private space, so presents other challenges. Preparing and…
Read MoreA Journey from Urban to Countryside Coliving
Anton and Morgane met and each found a ‘life-partner’ at a Stockholm co-living development and are applying their learnings to something similar in the UK. Nick asked them about their experience of the K9 Co-living development and what advice they’d give to others. Q1. How did you find K9 Stockholm? What brought you there? Anton:…
Read MoreTrade up to a house share
We often focus on the financial savings that house sharing offers, but there is also a lot to be said for the better quality of the home and the greater living space a share can provide. With professional landlords trying to squeeze as much money out of a small space as possible, live-in landlords often…
Read MoreYou and Yours. House Sharing When Older
BBC Radio 4 You and Yours programme looks at house sharing when older. Presenter Shari Val speaks to Suzanne and Nick. Listen to this 8 minute radio segment at timepoint 12.26 on this BBC Sounds recording using the link below. Suzanne is 62 and lives in London. She has two younger lodgers (30s) as it…
Read MoreSeasonal Co-living in Devon
Interview with Nick, who after a period of work and then travel, wanted a base somewhere close to nature with interesting people, to relax and plan the next stage of life. Devon provides the backdrop but ‘It’s not so much about the place – it’s about the people you share it with.’ Q. What was…
Read MoreLong term house sharing as we age
When younger, a house share or flat share is often seen as a temporary living arrangement before ‘settling down’ with a partner or establishing your career. There is the prospect of home ownership ahead for many. When older, this is less likely to be the case. It may be that you need time to adjust…
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