What is the Future of Coliving? Thoughts and Learnings after Spending a Decade in Coliving

Over ten years ago, coliving was a fringe experiment, a quirky idea that a handful of us were testing in small apartments and shared houses. Today, after spending a decade building coliving spaces from Bangalore to Berlin, I’ve witnessed this concept transform into a dynamic, maturing segment of the housing ecosystem. Coliving is no longer just about shared rent and roommate matching; it’s about reimagining how we live, connect, and grow together. In this journey, I learned early that success in coliving hinges on getting the basics right, solid operations, comfortable design, and sustainable economics, before chasing buzzwords. As I often say, technology is an enabler, but this is still very much a people and space business.

This personal reflection blends my own hard-earned lessons with insights from leading industry reports and surveys. We’ll explore the major trends shaping the future of coliving, from mental health and community-building to investor appetite and asset-light growth to the rise of digital nomads and ESG imperatives. My goal is to spark conversation and share a vision (grounded in both data and experience) of where coliving is headed next.

From Fringe to Mainstream: Evolution of an Industry

When I co-founded my first coliving venture in 2015, the concept of strangers intentionally living together was met with skepticism. Back then, our 500 beds in Bangalore taught me tough lessons in scaling: focus on fundamentals like unit economics and tenant experience before fancy amenities or marketing. Fast forward to today, and coliving has shed its “alternative” label; it’s now recognized as a legitimate, fast-evolving housing model worldwide.

One clear sign of maturation is the industry’s shift from breakneck expansion to thoughtful growth. In the early days, many players (ourselves included) were enamored by the idea of explosive scaling. Now, a global survey of coliving operators shows a more cautious approach: roughly half of operators are holding off on new openings for now, prioritizing sustainable operations over rapid expansion. In other words, expansion is looking more like a marathon than a sprint. The coliving companies that survive and thrive are those shoring up their foundations, improving profitability and refining the resident experience so that when they do expand, they can do so sustainably.

Another shift I’ve observed is the recognition that “bigger isn’t always better” in this business. Despite media portrayal of coliving as a fast-scaling global movement, the reality today is a fragmented landscape of mostly small operators. The majority of coliving companies run just one property or under 50 beds; even the well-known brands often manage only a handful of locations. This small scale can be a blessing in disguise, it allows for intimate communities and personalized experiences. But it also means we don’t yet have a McDonald’s or Marriott of coliving; no one formula fits all. In fact, coliving models often vary by region: European operators might emphasize communal culture in dense cities, while North American ones focus on affordability in high-cost markets. This diversity is a sign of an industry still finding its footing in different contexts.

For me personally, a major milestone was co-authoring the 2025 Global Coliving Report, where we captured voices of dozens of operators worldwide. A key takeaway was that coliving has entered a more deliberate and reflective phase, moving beyond hype to refine its model while staying true to its communal roots. The enthusiasm is still there, coliving still promises flexible, affordable, socially rich living, but many of us have learned the hard way that delivering on that promise requires patience, operational discipline, and sometimes saying “no” to growth for growth’s sake. As one industry colleague put it, “prudent stewardship often wins out over rapid scaling”.

Before we delve into specific trends, I want to highlight one guiding principle from my journey: put people first. Coliving is ultimately a hospitality business on steroids, you’re not just providing a bed, you’re cultivating a community and a lifestyle. That means the human element (from resident selection to conflict resolution) is paramount. The past decade taught me that fancy apps or sleek furniture mean little if you don’t have a happy, cohesive community. With that in mind, let’s examine how coliving’s future is being shaped by the pursuit of community and well-being.

Community & Wellbeing: The Heart of Coliving’s Value

If coliving has a secret sauce, it’s community. Living in a coliving space isn’t just a roof over your head, it’s an antidote to the urban isolation and loneliness that plague modern city life. In fact, research indicates that intentional community living can be a powerful health intervention, alleviating loneliness and boosting mental health. Human beings are inherently social; when we share not just spaces but our lives, we create social support systems that buffer against stress and anxiety. I’ve seen residents arrive in a new city knowing no one, and within weeks they have friends to dine with, network with, or even launch projects with, a transformation I never tire of witnessing.

The data reinforces these anecdotes. One UK-based report found that nearly 79% of coliving residents feel they’ve made meaningful connections with other residents in their building. Think about that, four out of five people form new friendships or support networks simply by virtue of living in a well-designed community. It’s no surprise then that the number one reason almost half of residents choose coliving is the all-inclusive simplicity of it (no hassles over bills), but the number two reason (cited by 21.5% of residents) is the opportunity to meet people and be part of a community. In an age where loneliness is considered a public health concern, coliving offers a built-in solution: belonging. Studies show a strong sense of belonging is one of the most potent protective factors against mental health issues like depression and anxiety, something coliving fosters by design.

Mental Health Integration in coliving

Over the years, I’ve observed coliving operators becoming more intentional about integrating wellness and mental health into their offerings. This goes beyond the passive benefit of “you have friends around.” Some pioneering communities organize wellness workshops, group yoga/meditation sessions, or provide access to counseling services as part of the living experience (an emerging trend highlighted in the Art of Coliving and Mental Health report ). The recognition is that a supportive community, combined with resources for personal growth, can significantly improve residents’ overall well-being. One coliving space I visited in Los Angeles, for example, partnered with a local therapy collective to host monthly mental health check-in circles for residents. It’s a sign that future coliving spaces may blur the line between home and holistic wellbeing center.

At a fundamental level, coliving combats the mental health risks of urban living simply by reducing social isolation. Cities often force us into silos; even pre-pandemic, city dwellers reported higher rates of depression and anxiety, partly due to loneliness and stress. Coliving flips that script by intentionally designing for social interaction. Shared kitchens, lounges, and events create organic opportunities to bond. Communal meals, game nights, and rooftop BBQs, these aren’t just fun extras; they’re the beating heart of the community. They give residents a sense of family and shared purpose. As one report put it, coliving spaces intentionally encourage communal activities, from shared meals to group outings, specifically to address the root cause of urban loneliness: lack of meaningful social connection. In my own properties, I’ve seen shy newcomers blossom into community leaders simply because the environment drew them out of their shell. There’s magic in seeing someone realize they’re no longer alone.

However, fostering community is easier said than done, and this is where coliving operators (myself included) have had to learn and adapt. It turns out that while people crave community, they also value convenience and privacy. Residents want connection, but on flexible, drop-in terms that fit their busy schedules. A Friday movie night or a casual potluck works well because it’s social yet not obligatory. On the flip side, if you over-engineer the social programming, it can feel forced. We’ve learned that successful community-building often means light structure, heavy empowerment: set the stage for interactions, but let residents take the lead when possible.

One practical challenge is frequency and staffing. According to a 2025 operator survey, over half of coliving companies host official community events only once a month or a few times a month, and quite a few admitted they “rarely or never” organize events, instead leaving it to residents to self-organize. Why? Many operators run on tight budgets and can’t justify a full-time community manager at every site. Only about 15% of coliving operators in the survey had full-time community managers on staff. Around one-third had part-time or dual-role staff handling community, and the rest had no dedicated community staff at all. The result is that in some colivings, community building happens ad hoc (or not at all) beyond an initial welcome pizza night. This is a gap that needs to be addressed if coliving is to deliver on its promise of belonging. The implication is clear: community doesn’t “just happen”, it needs continuous facilitation and care. As one industry handbook notes, operators are now trying to “crack the code on how to scale the ‘software’ of community alongside the ‘hardware’ of properties”. In other words, how do we nurture genuine human connections as we grow in size? This is both a challenge and an opportunity for the future.

I’ve found that some of the most successful coliving communities empower their residents to be co-creators of community life. For example, a coliving space in Singapore (Casa Mia Coliving) implemented a simple but powerful approach: they spend just 0.5% of their revenue on community events, focusing on consistent, low-cost rituals (like weekly family dinners and hobby clubs). The payoff was huge, average resident stay lengths increased from 9 to 13 months. In other words, investing a tiny fraction of budget in community yielded happier residents who stayed four months longer (reducing turnover costs). That’s a compelling business case for community-building. It mirrors what I’ve seen: when residents feel genuinely connected, they stick around. Retention goes up, vacancies go down, and everyone (including the investors) wins.

Of course, coliving is not a utopia, living with others can spark conflicts and stress if not managed well. Over the years we’ve encountered our share of interpersonal dramas: the roommate who never cleans the kitchen, the midnight guitar player, the cliques that unintentionally exclude others. Community living amplifies both the joys and frictions of social life. The Global Coliving Report noted that the #1 challenge operators cite in building community is managing conflicts or incompatibility among residents. Even when we carefully vet residents for “fit,” disagreements and personality clashes will happen. Additionally, paradoxically, some residents who say they want community might still skip events due to busy schedules or shyness, leading to a classic issue of apathy, a few enthusiastic members join everything, while others stay reclusive. In my experience, the remedy is proactive facilitation: setting clear community norms (house rules), providing conflict resolution support, and designing spaces that allow privacy as well as togetherness. Future coliving spaces are putting more thought into this balance. For example, providing quiet zones, private nooks, or even “introvert hours” can help prevent the strain of over-socialization (which the mental health experts warn about as a real risk, people do need personal space even in community ). One of our upcoming projects is experimenting with a “quiet floor” concept, a section of the building where residents who need more solitude can live while still engaging with the wider community on their own terms.

The bottom line is: community is coliving’s greatest asset and also its greatest responsibility. Looking ahead, I believe coliving operators will increasingly differentiate themselves by the strength of their communities and how well they support residents’ personal growth and well-being. We’ll see more professionalization in community management (perhaps “Chief Community Officer” becoming a common role) and more integration of wellbeing programming. When done right, coliving can provide not just a place to live, but a platform for thriving, socially, mentally, even professionally. After all, many coliving spaces double as networking and collaboration hubs. I’ve seen startup teams form in our communal lounges and lifelong friendships forged over Sunday brunch. In the future, we may even measure a coliving space’s success not just by occupancy or revenue, but by metrics like “happiness index” or “friendships formed.” That might sound idealistic, but I genuinely believe the human outcomes are what will set great colivings apart.

The Rise of the Digital Nomad & New Lifestyles

One of the most exciting shifts in recent years, and one that will define coliving’s future, is the rise of the digital nomad and remote worker lifestyle. Flexible work arrangements have untethered millions of people from any fixed location. Suddenly, a new demographic is seeking housing: globally mobile professionals who want plug-and-play living arrangements in whatever city they land. Coliving is tailor-made for this. I’ve met residents who treat our colivings like a network of home bases as they hop between countries. They crave the convenience, the ready-made community, and the flexible lease terms that traditional rentals just don’t offer.

The industry has noticed. We’ve seen an explosion of nomad-oriented coliving spaces in attractive locales, from surf towns in Bali and Costa Rica to urban hubs like Lisbon and Mexico City, all designed to cater to remote workers seeking community. These aren’t your typical city-center apartment shares; often they blend living spaces with co-working areas, creating a seamless live/work/play environment. For example, in Bali I visited a coliving that offered private rooms plus a coworking cafe and even a podcast studio on-site (with surf lessons at dawn to boot!). In Europe, many coliving operators have pivoted to a more experiential, design-led model for digital nomads, emphasizing stylish communal spaces, high-speed internet, and events that help newcomers plug into the local culture. These spaces recognize that digital nomads are not just looking for a cheap room, they’re looking for a community and an experience as they work remotely.

Interestingly, regional differences in coliving models have emerged alongside this trend. In my travels, I’ve noticed: in India, coliving still centers on affordability and convenience for young professionals just starting out (average rents might be as low as $150/month, with basic amenities). In Europe, by contrast, many colivings market themselves as a lifestyle upgrade, beautifully designed spaces for cosmopolitan nomads or creatives, often at a premium price point, justified by perks and events. In the U.S., coliving has often been positioned as a solution to exorbitant rents in cities like New York or SF, blending affordability with a curated community vibe. None of these approaches is “right” or “wrong”, they reflect local needs and cultural expectations. One insight I live by: if you want to grow globally, you have to act locally. You cannot copy-paste a coliving model from Berlin to Bangalore without adaptation. Every city has its rhythm, its housing quirks, its resident expectations. The best coliving operators understand this deeply. As a colleague of mine wisely said, “If you want to grow globally, you have to act locally”, a mantra that will only become more important as coliving expands to new markets.

Several innovative operators are already exemplifying this global-local balance. Habyt (a European coliving brand) grew rapidly across multiple countries by acquiring or partnering with local coliving companies, effectively creating a global network with local flavor. They maintained a consistent core offering (flexible leases, furnished units, community events) while adjusting to meet local needs, whether that meant offering more private studio options in one city or more communal activities in another. This approach of joint ventures and local partnerships has been essential for Habyt’s expansion into places like Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon and even Singapore. Another example is how some coliving brands partner with hospitality providers: one large coliving player teamed up with a hotel chain in Asia to convert underused hotel spaces into coliving-style accommodations for remote workers, a clever way to leverage existing real estate for the nomad crowd. I anticipate more such partnerships in the future, blurring lines between hotels, hostels, and coliving. In essence, coliving is becoming part of the broader “flexible living” ecosystem, sitting alongside extended-stay hotels, serviced apartments, and Airbnb, but differentiating itself through the strength of community and social design.

The digital nomad trend also means the average age and profile of co-livers might inch upward (at least slightly). Traditionally, coliving has been overwhelmingly a young person’s game, surveys show about 95–98% of coliving tenants are between 18 and 35 years old, typically students, recent grads, young professionals, or expats. Older demographics (families, mid-career professionals, retirees) have hardly touched coliving yet. They either haven’t been drawn in, or the products on the market don’t cater to their needs. But remote work is not just for 20-somethings; plenty of people in their 30s and 40s are now untethered as well. I suspect we’ll soon see coliving communities that quietly skew older or more mixed-age as the concept gains mainstream acceptance. In my own projects, we’ve started to experiment with slightly more upscale units to attract early-30s professionals who might balk at dorm-style living but love the idea of community. Also, a few bold operators have piloted niche coliving communities: one survey respondent ran a coliving for single parents with children, another created a community specifically for senior women. These are exceptional cases right now, but they point to a potential future where coliving isn’t just for Millennials and Gen Z. Imagine “coliving for empty nesters” or intergenerational coliving where college students and retirees live together in a mutually supportive setup. These models could address loneliness among seniors and childcare needs for families, for example. It hasn’t taken off yet, but the door is open. I predict that as the population ages and urban isolation affects older groups, we’ll see innovative coliving offerings for them, especially if someone can crack the code of mixing age groups harmoniously (not an easy task, as cultural preferences differ by generation ).

Finally, the digital nomad wave is prompting colivings to become increasingly tech-enabled and flexible. Nomads want to be able to book a room for 3 or 6 months with a click, extend easily, or transfer to another location without hassle. We’re seeing the emergence of membership models, pay one membership, and gain access to a network of coliving spaces globally (somewhat akin to how WeWork offered office hotdesk memberships). I wouldn’t be surprised if in the future a company offers a “World CoLiving Passport” allowing members to hop between cities, London this summer, Bali in winter, Tokyo next spring, with guaranteed community and housing wherever they land. We are, in fact, piloting something similar via Everything Coliving’s platform, connecting operators across 17+ countries. The ability to seamlessly move and still belong to a community is a powerful proposition. Remote work has fundamentally changed what many people need from “home.” Home can be multiple places over a year, and coliving can provide the continuity (friends, support, a familiar routine) amidst that mobility.

In summary, the future of coliving will be inextricably linked with the future of work and lifestyle. As work becomes more flexible and global, living will too. Coliving spaces will cater to a generation (actually, generations) that values experiences over possessions, community over isolation, and flexibility over stability. They will be hubs where ideas cross-pollinate; I often think of them as modern ports of call for the knowledge economy, where a software developer from Sydney might be brainstorming with a designer from Berlin over coffee in a Brooklyn coliving kitchen. In the big picture, this trend could have profound societal benefits: spreading talent and innovation more evenly, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and revitalizing cities by drawing a creative, entrepreneurial cohort through these coliving hubs. We’re already seeing hints of this, and it’s incredibly exciting.

Investors Are Moving In: Coliving as an Asset Class

For all the warm-and-fuzzy talk about community, let’s not forget that coliving also has to make financial sense. For years, skeptics questioned the viability of coliving; would investors really put serious money into what some dubbed “adult dorms”? The answer today is a resounding yes. Investor appetite for coliving is at an all-time high, and it’s turning coliving into a bona fide asset class within real estate.

A recent survey of global institutional investors revealed that nearly 62% plan to increase their portfolio allocation to the “Living sector” (which includes coliving) in the next 5 years, and on average, investors intend to double the capital they deploy into living-focused assets compared to a few years ago. In 2021, institutional investors were planning around £113 million into living sectors; in 2023 that figure jumped to £248 million planned, more than double. This is huge. It means big money sees coliving, alongside things like multifamily and student housing, as a growth opportunity. In fact, student housing (a cousin of coliving) shot up to the top of investor optimism rankings recently , and coliving often rides the same wave as student accommodation and other rental housing that benefit from strong demand. The key driver? Resilient demand and steady returns. No matter the economy, people need an affordable place to live. Unlike offices or retail, which have seen slumps, the living sector has remained “as safe as houses” to quote an Investec report, people will always need a bed to sleep in, and coliving offers a compelling package in that regard.

What makes coliving particularly attractive to investors now? A few factors stand out:

• High Occupancy & Low Vacancy: coliving properties, when run well, tend to have very high occupancy rates. Because each unit houses multiple residents or offers flexible lengths, vacancies can be minimized. Demand remains steady among target groups (millennials, Gen Z, students, expats, digital nomads) almost regardless of economic ups and downs . During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, some colivings actually outperformed traditional rentals, people still needed community or an affordable place to isolate, and vacancy rates in coliving stayed impressively low in many cases. For investors, this means reliable, predictable income streams even in choppy markets.
  
• Enhanced Rental Yields: By design, coliving can generate higher rental yield per square foot than standard rentals. Operators can charge slightly higher per-room rent since you are offering furnished, all-inclusive living with perks, yet the overall cost for a resident is lower than renting a full apartment. It’s a win-win in that sense. Multiple tenants sharing a single unit’s rent means the property’s total yield is higher. One analysis noted that a 10-bedroom coliving property with shared amenities can bring in more income than 5 conventional apartments, thanks to higher per-bedroom rents and efficient use of space. Also, many colivings offer smaller private spaces + larger common spaces, fitting more paying customers into the same building footprint without cramping their lifestyle. All of this can translate to strong rental yields for investors .
  
• Operational Efficiency & Cost Sharing: coliving’s communal model means certain expenses are shared, lowering costs for both residents and operators. Utilities, internet, and amenities are used jointly, achieving economies of scale. Having 20 people under one roof is cheaper to service than those 20 in separate houses. Centralized property management also yields savings, one on-site team or manager can handle issues for dozens of units in one building, which is far more efficient than managing dispersed single-family rentals. Many colivings leverage tech (maintenance apps, automated billing, smart locks, etc.) to streamline operations. The result: better margins. As an investor, when you hear “higher revenue and lower operating cost,” your ears perk up. And indeed, investors are seeing coliving as a model that can outperform traditional rentals in key efficiency metrics .
  
• Rising Demand & Demographics: We touched on this earlier, the fact that the largest generations (Millennials and Gen Z) are renting longer, marrying later, and valuing community means the built-in demand for coliving is enormous and still growing. Every year a new cohort of graduates and young professionals moves to expensive cities and faces the same problems: isolation, high rent, few friends. Coliving directly addresses that, so demand is not likely to wane anytime soon. Investors see that coliving is tapping into a structural shift in how people want to live. It’s not a fad; it aligns with long-term social trends (urbanization, loneliness epidemic, housing affordability crunch, remote work, etc.). One report succinctly said: “Coliving is not just a fleeting trend—it represents the future of urban, rural, and even destination living”. That’s a strong statement, essentially positing that this model will be part of the mainstream housing menu going forward, in cities and beyond. Investors who get in now can ride this wave of rising demand and potentially reap both financial returns and social impact.
  
• ESG and Social Impact Alignment: A compelling aspect of coliving for many modern investors (particularly in Europe and among institutional funds) is that it often checks the boxes for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. Coliving by nature tends to be more sustainable than equivalent separate dwellings, you’re utilizing space more efficiently, often refurbishing existing buildings, and reducing per-capita resource use (shared amenities mean fewer total appliances, etc.). Socially, coliving provides affordable housing solutions and builds community, tackling issues like loneliness and housing inequality. All of this appeals to impact investors and ESG-focused funds. For example, a Savills study found 51% of European real estate investors plan to invest in coliving in the near term, explicitly attracted by its blend of financial and social returns. The Art of coliving Investment report notes that coliving aligns well with ESG principles, and cites examples like The Social Hub (formerly The Student Hotel) and Venn which have embraced ESG goals and secured funding from impact investors. Likewise, Cohabs, a coliving company from Belgium, integrates sustainability into its operations (they refurbish historic buildings with eco-friendly materials, etc.), making it a magnet for socially conscious capital. For investors looking to do good while doing well, coliving hits a sweet spot: it addresses a real societal need (community-oriented affordable housing) and can do so in a green, community-positive way. I can attest that some of our investors were initially drawn to us because of the social impact angle. They loved hearing that we’re not just filling buildings, but reducing loneliness and fostering community. In a world where impact investing is on the rise, coliving offers a tangible, feel-good story without sacrificing returns, a rare combination.
  
• Validation through Big Deals: Nothing builds confidence like seeing peers make big bets. In the last couple of years, we’ve seen headline-making investments in coliving. For instance, Cohabs raised $450 million in 2022 to fuel its global expansion. The Social Hub (TSH) secured €145 million in funding to grow their hybrid student hotel/coliving model. Major private equity firms and even hotel companies have acquired or launched coliving brands. Perhaps the biggest validation came when Common (a US coliving startup) merged with Habyt (Europe’s largest coliving player) in 2022 to form a global coliving behemoth, essentially a transatlantic consolidation aiming for scale. (Side note: while Common+Habyt faced challenges later, the initial merger underscored that scale and consolidation are happening as the sector matures.) Moreover, some heavyweights in real estate finance have entered the fray: companies like Ares Management and Ivanhoé Cambridge (large investment firms) have injected capital into coliving developments , and sovereign wealth funds and pension funds have started to take note too . It’s telling that the conversation among investors has shifted from “Why would we invest in coliving?” a few years ago to “Who are the winners in coliving we should back?” today. The question is no longer if coliving is worthy of investment, but how best to invest (directly in properties, via operating companies, through partnerships, etc.).

Asset-Light Models and Sustainable Growth

One important trend in the business of coliving (closely tied to investor strategy) is the rise of asset-light operating models. In the early days, a lot of coliving startups tried to “do it all,” effectively acting as property developers, landlords, and operators. That’s a capital-intensive approach, and a risky one for a young company. Now, the industry has gravitated toward lighter models like long-term leases or management agreements. According to the 2025 Global Coliving Survey, only about 25% of coliving operators actually own the properties they operate; the vast majority (roughly 75%) pursue asset-light strategies. About 46.8% use a master lease model, renting entire buildings from landlords and then sub-leasing rooms to residents. Another ~21% operate via revenue-share or management agreements, where a property owner partners with the coliving brand to run the building and split the income. A small remainder use hybrids or franchise setups.

This marks a clear trend: coliving companies are realizing they can grow faster and more agilely by not tying up capital in real estate. Leasing or managing someone else’s asset means you need far less upfront money per bed added, and you can exit a location more easily if it underperforms. It also reflects a bit of hard-earned wisdom: controlling less brick-and-mortar can mean more flexibility in a fast-changing market. Over the past decade, some coliving players that went heavy on property ownership struggled under the capital strain and lack of agility (the case of some early pioneers in London and the U.S. comes to mind, where owning large buildings exposed them to real estate downturns). In contrast, asset-light operators could pivot or scale down when needed without a huge balance-sheet hit. Investors, too, often prefer the asset-light model for coliving startups because it’s a less risky, more scalable path. It’s analogous to how many hotel brands (e.g., Marriott) choose to manage hotels rather than own them, let the real estate investors own the building, while the brand focuses on operations and customer experience. We will likely see more creative partnerships between coliving companies and real estate developers: e.g., a developer building a new apartment complex might design it to spec with a coliving operator’s input, then hand over operations to that brand under a management contract. This could be a win-win: the developer ensures a steady occupancy via the coliving concept, and the operator expands inventory without heavy capital expense. I’ve been involved in a couple of such discussions recently, and it’s an exciting model.

Asset-light does require careful execution, a bad lease deal can sink an operator if rents are too high or if economic conditions change. The 2025 survey indicated a generally cautious mindset among operators, which is healthy. Many coliving startups learned from the WeWork saga in coworking: aggressive leasing without sustainable unit economics is a recipe for trouble. So now it’s about smart growth, picking the right locations, structuring leases with profit-sharing or break clauses, and not overextending. The fact that ~45% of operators said they are not sure about expanding in the next year (or won’t expand) suggests disciplined growth is the prevailing mood, even amid strong investor interest. This discipline will serve the sector well in the long run, ensuring that coliving doesn’t implode under unrealistic expansion plans.

From an investor’s perspective, asset-light coliving firms can be attractive because they resemble high-growth “managed service” businesses rather than pure real estate plays. They might achieve better multiples (tech-like multiples even) if they demonstrate a franchise-like model with scalability. We may see some coliving brands eventually franchising their concept to local operators in different cities (much as some hostel chains have done). In fact, the survey hinted a few operators are exploring franchise arrangements. Imagine a future where you could buy a “coliving franchise” license for your city, using a proven brand’s playbook, that’s one possible evolution.

Overall, the influx of investor capital and the push for sustainable, asset-light expansion means coliving is professionalizing rapidly. Gone are the days of ragtag DIY operations; we’re looking at a future with well-capitalized companies, sophisticated management, and maybe even IPOs or REITs focused on coliving. But as we grow up, we must not lose sight of what makes coliving special: the human factor. In boardrooms and pitch decks I often find myself reminding folks: occupancy rates and yield are vital, yes, but our product is people’s homes. If we compromise the resident experience for the sake of an extra percent of yield, we’ll kill the golden goose. Fortunately, I sense that investors and operators alike are beginning to grasp that community drives the economic model, not the other way around. Higher occupancy and retention come from happy, engaged communities, so investing in that software of community is just smart business (back to that Casa Mia example of community spend boosting retention ). The best investors in this space are the ones who ask me about our community engagement metrics as much as our NOI (net operating income).

To sum up, the capital is coming and the stakes are rising. Coliving’s future will involve more institutional capital, bigger portfolios, and perhaps consolidation (smaller players joining forces to compete with larger ones). We’re likely to see coliving brands become as commonplace as hotel brands, each with its own niche, some more luxe, some more budget, some more community-focused, others more tech-oriented. The successful ones will be those who can scale without diluting the resident experience. If we can pull that off, marrying financial viability with vibrant community living, coliving will cement itself as a permanent, transformative part of the real estate landscape.

Innovation & Trends Shaping the Next Chapter

Looking ahead, what innovations and emerging trends will shape the future of coliving? Based on industry reports and my own observations, here are some key themes and actionable insights that I believe will define the coming decade of coliving:

• Blurring Lines Between Hospitality and Housing: coliving of the future will continue to hybridize with other models. We already see coliving spaces that feel like boutique hotels (housekeeping, concierge, curated events) and hotels trying to foster longer-term community vibes. Concepts like extended stay, serviced apartments, and coliving are converging. For example, The Social Hub (formerly TSH) in Europe offers student accommodation, hotel rooms, and coliving suites under one roof, a flexible model that keeps the building full year-round and maintains a vibrant mix of short- and long-term residents. This kind of mixed-use “living hub”, blending coliving, co-working, cafés, event venues, will likely become more common. It makes buildings more resilient and activates the ground floor with community spaces open to the public, integrating colivings into their neighborhoods. Future coliving developments may look more like mini-villages or vertical campuses than simple apartment blocks.
  
• Specialization and Niche Communities: While today most colivings target the broad 20s/30s demographic, we’ll see more specialized coliving offerings. Think themed or interest-based communities: coliving for artists with studios and music rooms, coliving for fitness enthusiasts with in-house gyms and healthy meal plans, coliving for entrepreneurs with startup mentorship and co-working included. Already, some operators differentiate via lifestyle: e.g., one might brand itself as the “wellness coliving” with yoga classes and green juice on tap, another as the “tech coliving” with smart home gadgets and links to local accelerators. This reflects a broader trend of consumer demand for personalized experiences. Niche colivings can foster even tighter communities because everyone shares a common interest or identity. On the flip side, focusing too narrowly could limit your market size, so it’s a strategic balance. One interesting niche that could emerge is senior coliving or intergenerational coliving, addressing isolation among older adults by creating communities where retirees live alongside younger housemates or families in a mutually beneficial setup. Given the current data showing almost no operators cater to over-35 populations, this is largely uncharted territory, which to me means opportunity. If someone cracks the model (perhaps with a care or medical support component), senior coliving could truly take off in the 2030s when Gen X/Y hit retirement and seek alternatives to traditional senior living.
  
• Tech-Enabled Living Experiences: Technology will play an even bigger role in shaping coliving operations and experiences. We’ll see more integrated coliving apps for residents, one-stop platforms where you can pay rent, request maintenance, RSVP to events, chat with housemates, and even vote on community decisions. Some colivings already use apps to match roommates or to facilitate skill-sharing among residents (e.g., “who can help me assemble IKEA furniture in exchange for a six-pack?”). IoT and smart home tech are also being deployed: smart locks for easy access and security, sensors to optimize energy usage, and so on. The key, however, is tech in coliving should augment human connection, not replace it. A community app is great to break the ice, but it’s the in-person interaction that cements friendships. I foresee interesting uses of data analytics as well, operators analyzing usage patterns of common spaces or event participation to continually tweak and improve the community experience. On the operations side, more advanced property management systems tailored to coliving (like the one we built, JumboTiger) will help operators scale efficiently across multiple locations while maintaining quality. Technology, used thoughtfully, can remove a lot of friction (think self-guided virtual tours for prospective tenants, AI-assisted customer service, etc.), freeing community managers to focus on the human side. Perhaps even AR/VR might come into play, virtual community forums or hybrid events where residents can join remotely (relevant if you have a network of colivings globally and want to connect communities).
  
• ESG and Sustainability as Core Features: Environmental and social sustainability won’t just be investor checkboxes; they’ll become selling points to residents (especially Gen Z). Future coliving spaces might be marketed on their green credentials, solar-powered buildings, zero-waste practices, urban gardens, etc. We’re already seeing some operators like Cohabs include sustainable practices (rainwater harvesting, planting a tree for each resident, etc.) to build a brand of environmentally conscious living. Coliving inherently reduces per capita resource use (living in a smaller private footprint and sharing big appliances), and this can be emphasized. Additionally, measuring and communicating social impact will grow in importance. Coliving companies might publish annual “community impact reports” showing, for example, resident satisfaction, mental health improvements, volunteer initiatives, or local economic contributions. In a world increasingly concerned with ESG, coliving has an opportunity to shine as a model that is both profitable and socially beneficial. Governments may even lend support, there’s speculation that some cities could offer incentives (like faster permits or tax breaks) for coliving projects that address social or environmental goals, e.g. providing a certain number of affordable units or meeting green building standards. If policy nudges align with coliving, it could catalyze a lot of growth.
  
• Community Facilitation at Scale: I touched on this earlier, but it’s worth reiterating as a future trend: coliving operators will need to innovate in scaling community. We might see new roles or partnership models to support community life. For instance, more colivings might adopt the “ambassador program” approach: where a few residents get perks or discounts in exchange for volunteering as community hosts (organizing movie nights, resolving minor conflicts, welcoming newcomers). This leverages the passion of community-minded residents and reduces the need for full-time staff. Other spaces might partner with local businesses or wellness providers to run events (e.g., a local fitness instructor comes in to run weekly classes for residents, a mental health nonprofit runs a workshop, providing value to residents at low cost to the operator). The Community Facilitation Handbook by Art of Co hinted at many such tools and principles for building strong communities at scale, from case studies of successful colivings to frameworks for ROI on community initiatives . Implementing these learnings will be key. Ultimately, the coliving sector might develop a standard set of best practices for community management (just as hotels have SOPs for guest services). I wouldn’t be surprised to see certifications or training programs for “Certified Community Managers” emerge, elevating the professionalism in this domain. As competition grows, those coliving brands known for vibrant, well-run communities will have a clear edge in attracting residents.
  
• Flexible Leasing and Financial Innovation: Another area of innovation is in the leasing and financial model for residents. Traditional rentals lock you into 12-month contracts. Coliving introduced more flexibility, but there’s room to go further. I predict more modular lease options, e.g., commit to 3 months and then month-to-month, or packages where rent can include not just room and utilities but also services like laundry, meals, or co-working access. Some colivings might offer a tiered membership: a basic tier for a private room and standard amenities, and a premium tier that adds on weekly cleaning, stocked groceries, or access to exclusive events. On the financial side, perhaps colivings will experiment with membership subscriptions (like a gym), where you subscribe to the brand rather than a specific location. Insurance and fintech could play a role too (some already partner to offer renters insurance or flexible deposit alternatives). In the distant future, maybe even tokenization or co-ownership models might arise, where residents can own a stake in the property or earn rewards (imagine if long-term residents accrue points that could be converted to equity or discounts at other colivings worldwide). These ideas are speculative but underline a larger point: the housing finance model is ripe for innovation and coliving could be a platform for that.

Having laid out these trends, let me crystallize a few actionable insights for coliving stakeholders (operators, investors, and even residents) that can help navigate the future:

• Focus on the “Software” (Community) as much as the Hardware: Budget for community managers or equivalent programs even as you scale. The operators who facilitate belonging will enjoy higher occupancy and longer tenancies, the data is clear on this. Don’t treat community programming as an afterthought; bake it into your business model (and P&L) from the start.
  
• Embrace Asset-Light but Plan for Resilience: If you’re an operator, scaling via leases/management contracts is smart, but structure deals carefully to withstand downturns (e.g., include break clauses or share risk with landlords). If you’re an investor, do due diligence on asset-light startups by stress-testing their lease commitments. The goal is sustainable growth over blitzscaling. The industry’s pivot to cautious expansion is a sign of wisdom; keep heeding that.
  
• Design for Flexibility and Diversity of Users: New cohorts (remote workers, older residents, couples, etc.) are coming into the renter pool. Design your spaces to be adaptable, maybe a mix of unit types (studios, shared suites, family units) under one roof, or movable partitions that can reconfigure space as needs change. Coliving buildings that can flex with demographic shifts will have a longer lifespan. And consider accessibility and inclusivity: if coliving is to truly grow, it should welcome people of different abilities and backgrounds, not just the young and able-bodied.
  
• Measure What Matters (Not Just $): Start tracking metrics like community satisfaction, mental well-being improvements, events participation, carbon footprint reduction, etc. These will not only help you improve your offering but also provide powerful stories for marketing and for pitching to investors (especially those impact-minded). As one industry expert calculated, there is an ROI to community building in coliving, both financial and social. Quantify it if you can.
  
• Stay Agile and Locally Attuned: The coliving playbook is not one-size-fits-all. What works in Amsterdam might flop in Atlanta. Do your local homework, partner with local entrepreneurs, solicit feedback from residents in each city, and adapt your model accordingly. If you grow into new countries, have local community managers or “cultural translators” who ensure you respect norms and preferences. This local agility is why Europe took an early lead in coliving innovation , and it’s how coliving will successfully penetrate more markets globally.

Each of these points could be a deep discussion on its own, but together they form a roadmap for coliving’s journey ahead.

A Vision for the Future of Coliving

As I reflect on my decade in coliving, I’m struck by how much the world has changed, and how coliving has changed with it. When I started, we were solving a simple puzzle: how to make city living more affordable and a little less lonely. Today, coliving is poised to help answer much bigger questions: How will we live in an age of remote work and global mobility? How do we rebuild social fabric in disconnected societies? How can housing be more sustainable and inclusive?

The future of coliving, in my view, is incredibly bright if we keep people at the center of it. This is a people business before it’s a real estate business. The next generation of coliving spaces could very well become the community centers of modern cities, places that don’t just house people but connect them, inspire them, and support their ambitions and well-being. Imagine coliving communities partnering with local farms to supply food, with schools to offer continuous learning for residents, or with startups to incubate new ideas in living labs. The possibilities are endless when you have an engaged, collaborative group of residents under one (figurative) roof.

I also believe coliving will become a normalized life stage (or lifestyle) for many. Just as today it’s normal for a young person to rent an apartment, tomorrow it might be just as normal (even expected) to spend a few years in a coliving community, whether to jumpstart your career in a new city, expand your social network, or even recuperate from a life change. Coliving offers community, convenience, and flexibility at a time when those are exactly what people need. As awareness grows, we won’t have to explain the concept over and over (I look forward to the day when my relatives don’t look puzzled at the word “coliving”!). Instead, the question will be, which type of coliving is right for you? And there will be a spectrum of choices.

Of course, challenges lie ahead. Coliving operators must demonstrate they can consistently deliver safe, quality living environments. Cities will need to figure out smart regulations so that coliving contributes positively (and is not seen as dodging tenant protections or zoning laws). And we absolutely must continue to foster inclusion, ensuring that coliving communities are welcoming to people of different genders, cultures, and backgrounds. The best colivings already do this, creating melting pots of diversity. If we continue intentionally designing for inclusion, coliving can become a vehicle for greater social cohesion in our cities.

On a personal note, the greatest reward of this 10-year journey has been seeing lives changed by coliving. I’ve seen strangers become best friends and even spouses. I’ve seen isolated individuals find belonging and purpose. I’ve watched entrepreneurs meet their future co-founders in our communal kitchen. These stories are why I’m passionate about the future of coliving. We’re not just in the business of renting rooms; we’re in the business of building human connection. And our society can never have too much of that.

So, what is the future of coliving? In crux, it’s brighter and broader than ever: an industry growing up, grounded in data and operational wisdom, yet still youthful in its energy and mission. It’s a future where coliving is everywhere, from the heart of Manhattan to the suburbs of Mumbai, from beach towns to mountain villages, adapting to local needs but always carrying the torch of community and shared living. It’s a future where investors see coliving as not only profitable but purposeful, a place to park capital for both financial and social returns. And most importantly, it’s a future where countless people can find a home that’s more than a home, a place where they belong, grow, and thrive together.

Let’s continue building that future, deliberately and together (to echo the report I co-wrote). If the past decade was about proving the concept, the next will be about fulfilling its promise. I, for one, am excited to live it, and to live in it, shoulder to shoulder with the communities we create. Here’s to the next chapter of coliving, and to making it meaningful for everyone involved.