Can co-living solve housing affordability?

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February 21 2020
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Key global cities including New York, London, Tokyo and Singapore are attempting to solve housing affordability through co-living arrangements, with industry experts saying it could work in Australia.

Results from Savills show that co-living or purpose-built housing that mix rental rooms and communal spaces will help young professionals by solving the housing shortages and affordability constraints that the east coast currently faces.

According to Conal Newland, director of student accommodation at Savills Australia, the emergence of the sector at scale in Australia will originate across Sydney and Melbourne, as Savills' analysis shows that 88 of the top 100 ranked regions for investment and development are located across these two global gateway cities.

“As development costs and relative housing unaffordability continues its upward trend in Australia’s capital cities, co-living options will only mature and succeed,” Mr Newland said.

“This is a fresh opportunity for property investors, but it’s also a secure one. Co-living is a viable need, and it’s going to become more and more of a necessity over time.”

Savills Australia director of student accommodation Paul Savitz said co-living can help younger Australians in the same way student accommodation does, but for a slightly older demographic.

“Savills' analysis found that 1.46 million 25-34-year-olds rent across Australia, with almost 10,000 renters aged 25-34 living in the Melbourne [targeted areas]. Nationally, over 250,000 25-34-year-olds live on their own and 18.7 per cent of 25-34-year-olds also earn above the national average income, making them ideal prospective tenants for high quality co-living properties,” Mr Savitz said.

Early evidence suggests that the appearance of co-living properties in dense urban centres have been dominated by young professional residents from either start-up, creative, financial or professional sectors.

“For this demographic in particular, co-living offers the use and delivery of plentiful community orientated amenity spaces encouraging social interactions, wellbeing and experience, alongside privacy in your living space and beautiful, sophisticated building designs, setting itself apart from the new generation boarding house concept,” Mr Savitz said.

About the author

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

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