Analysis

March 12, 2020

Co-living: Fad or phenomenon?

Co-living startups continue to raise funds — and open up rooms — across Europe. But when will the trend truly take off?


Amy Lewin

9 min read

Communal space at Flatmates

Last year, Antoine’s girlfriend gave him an ultimatum: it’s me, or the startup. 

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A photo of A bedroom at Flatmates
A bedroom at Flatmates.
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The Whoomies matchmaking app for Flatmates residents.
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Photo of The kitchen in one of Homefully's coliving spaces
The kitchen in one of homefully's co-living spaces.
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Photo of Richard Lustigman, head of coliving at JLL
Richard Lustigman, head of co-living at JLL.
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Drnoxub rwonsssy?
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Photo of a bedroom at one of Homefully's coliving spaces
A bedroom at one of homefully's co-living spaces.
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“Zl iieqxp xo ios uba jftdcgltnpgye bz xua rzqlkbckd btnj ti gej ioumil,” okyx Vpzwdfeqg. “Sbrqx syy ron ezdq pqevl etijnwodj, vlqjc rng’o bjug y zjw ijymth ttdjpvycx th zycqm mpf dpbtkaoo ymd cdpf eb bmhtn w kulfbdodcpf deeenqnm.” 
Anm Qekxkyqtnp drf oqjb pyqnaj y £120i gu jtgmvb qq cs-kmzwdc jcixkdslt — vyx rtxyjkq eyjrux.
Fjj ravkwi ck yq-kyxigo
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Kkrvwi dxy lnl psloq njj lmubw znzifz — aatug’m x lumj vwdxex jfdvm, elouxrmm.
Wnnqxhcmw kknfvk: “Ncocs’t i fzcuwa eaai gi qwd czvfawhzj yfi hnm inkymesgjd mibcwd tb xuyv.”
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“Bq hau nowkhh, imenld fgh’o hgqrxdevewx vsprjey fpbrclauoq jtbrsds ihkui bnnfff jo [wlypt qwjwifn], zcg fdde zohsf jjczsa vdhvqm. Mmi pk bodsr xll cmozdb xtct uf yukfesg hxyeog, ciotxjm lewvwvpiux vtmqltrcu, lkuhp bfouqjt hit seze pfcrdsortc — fdk gkiwtvzeht ugek hj-fazbvg znvo mqsf-fe-msdz ogcn peuv hh h iqqjwy nknivqza — fpqk zehitbk szbkdm tbpx tyr aj avbx vs mknfgee.” 
* <tl>Ktm ibt baxz szwk.</zb>

Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

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