As the cost of living rises and loneliness becomes a global concern, “intentional communites” are increasingly popular. We meet co-living members to explore the pros and cons.
Living with strangers? Always-occupied toilets, unwashed dishes in the kitchen, and people playing loud music in the room next to yours when you’re trying to sleep?
Maybe it doesn’t have to be that way. As housing and rental costs remain high, and after the World Health Organisation has declared loneliness a global health concern, communal living is gaining media attention and community-led living arrangements are increasing.
Maybe making a home with others is more good than bad. The question is if society is ready.
Rosie Kellett, 30, is a food writer based in London. In 2020, she needed a new place to live after a breakup, and on social media spotted a warehouse – an old industrial building – with availability. Kellett estimates that in Hackney Wick, where she lives, there are close to 100 different warehouses communities. But the one she lives in is not like the others. “We’re set up a little differently,” she says.
Kellett lives with six other people in their late 20s and early 30s. Every week, they each put £25 into a shared bank account to cover the cost of household and cooking materials, bin bags, cleaning products and everyone’s dinner. Every night, one person cooks. On a shared group chat, people confirm if they’ll be in for dinner, if they want a late plate saved for when they come home, or if they are bringing a guest.
There are house chores – and house meetings. “It takes multiple WhatsApp polls to get a window of half an hour when everyone’s in,” Kellett tells the BBC, “but we try to do them as regularly as possible so that if anyone’s unhappy with their chores, or if there’s anything anyone wants to discuss, that doesn’t fester”.
The best thing about living communally, she says, is that there’s always someone around. The housemates feel like a family. “I’ve never felt that way, really, about people I’ve lived with before.” In London, she adds, the housing crises makes it very hard to find a home. “I think it’s becoming increasingly difficult to live a good life here… this for me is like we’ve gotten through the little crack in the system.”
There are drawbacks, too. Kellett has to work hard to ensure she gets some me time. “I can find it quite difficult to tear myself away from a big table full of people,” she says. And even if you opt out of a party, you will still hear it. There are two showers and two toilets, which the housemates share without too much problem, but one washing machine isn’t quite enough.”