I tried co-living, the remedy for those who have outgrown the gritty share house

When I was asked to try co-living, I wrote it off as a fancy re-branding of the gritty share house but I discovered something quite different.

One part boutique hotel and one part share house, co-living is an international phenomenon now getting a foothold in Sydney.

Unlike a share house you are not renting the building, instead it is owned and managed by a commercial operator that books residents on flexible lease arrangements into private rooms or complete mini-apartments.

Access to communal areas, bills, building maintenance, internet and furniture are often included in the weekly fee.

UKO established Sydney’s first co-living property in Stanmore in 2019, and have opened a second co-living space in Paddington, with plans to open three new buildings in Paddington, Newtown and Marrickville this year.

Hmlet, now one of the city’s biggest co-living operators, have nine locations.

I checked into UKO’s original Paddington digs for a three-night stay.

The location

On a beautiful treelined street of heritage terraces, my co-living home is two transformed adjoining terraces that look every bit as swish as their neighbours. Overlooking Moore Park, it is close to the new light rail, and a short walk from Oxford Street and Centennial Park. This is trophy home territory rather than a shared-house zone.

Step inside

”I’m like the mum of the house,” says UKO community host Jamie Page, as she opens the door to the elegant terrace. “I’m here to greet people when they’re checking in, if they need something from maintenance, I organise the events for everyone and I cook the house dinner once a fortnight.”

She shows me around the communal spaces, the large kitchen and dining area with central communal tables and a sunny and well maintained courtyard. “We also have events and a social calendar so you don’t have to sit in your room on your own. There are always people around.”

Here’s your room

One of 26 studios in the Paddington residence, it is the smart storage and clever configuration of the 25-square-metre room that impresses.

The kitchenette is concealed behind folding doors with a cooktop, mini-fridge, sink, microwave and enough cookware and cutlery for the average home chef. The en suite is small and simple, but it does beat sharing a bathroom with others.

A comfortable queen-sized bed, TV and built-in wardrobes, a desk that doubles as a dining table and compact leather couch complete the package.

Meeting the roommates

I join a boxing class with other residents that evening, which along with weekend yoga classes is free. Gloving up, I am warmly welcomed to the group who were surprisingly mixed in their ages and nationalities.

At the following dinner whipped up by Page, I chat with IT professional Lee Gesmundo and graphic designer Mehma Vitols.

“I’ve lived in Sydney for six years and I was in an apartment in Woolloomooloo,” Gesmundo says. “I was living by myself, so this is kind of like a segue back to living with people again but still having my own space. If I’m having a bad day I can just go chill, whereas in a share house, it’s a lot more difficult to do that. All the utilities are included as well here, so I know each week I just have to pay one amount. “

Vitols first heard about co-living while living overseas and the convenience along with costs were factors that influenced her decision to try it out. “Before I left [Sydney] I got rid of everything. So, to then come back and start again would just be time-consuming and really expensive,” she said.

So what does it cost?

Rooms at UKO Paddington start at $497 per week which is $53 less than the median rent for a unit in Paddington, according to Domain’s December 2019 Rent Report. Factor in bills, internet, weekly linen washing, furnishings and co-living starts to become viable for those looking to live in an otherwise pricey location.

The pluses and minuses

Having the en suite means there is no morning rush for the bathroom that’s common in share houses. Also a kettle and toaster in my kitchenette makes getting breakfast a breeze. If I want to fry up some eggs, the stove top in my room means there is no wait in a communal kitchen for my turn. No one can leave a passive-aggressive Post-it note after I left my plates unwashed in the sink.

Coming home to UKO each night is relaxing. Respect and orderliness are strong traits – something many who have outgrown share houses will appreciate.

I also can’t believe how quiet my room is. I am never woken up by somebody’s early morning or late night schedule despite being close to the building’s front door.

You also can’t put a price on the benefit of living in a community. My favourite part of the whole experience is chatting with a young couple from Barcelona travelling in Australia about history and politics in our home countries.

That’s not to say that co-living doesn’t come without its frustrations, but they certainly aren’t deal breakers. Despite having the larger of two room sizes on offer, the studio is on the small side. While it is stylishly furnished and the storage adequate, it doesn’t feel as homely as a room you’ve made your own from scratch.

The verdict

Co-living is fantastic if you’ve grown out of share houses, are constantly on the move, or need to get a feel of a suburb before you move in. If I were ever to move to a new city, it would be front of mind.

It strips away the arguments over paying bills without spoiling the comfort that comes with knowing there’s somebody down the hall to talk to after a long day.