Marcus Emadi | Director at Turning Point Capital
CONTENTS
Why Co-Living Is Moving Mainstream
Once considered a niche, co-living has evolved into a serious contender in the UK’s residential investment landscape. With housing affordability stretched and urbanisation trends accelerating, co-living offers a practical solution to address the growing demand for flexible, high-quality accommodation among young professionals.
At Turning Point Capital, we see co-living as a structurally undersupplied, demographically aligned asset class—delivering long-term income, institutional-grade management, and ESG-aligned design.
Market Maturity: From Experimental to Scalable
By 2025, co-living is no longer an experiment. It’s a tested model with strong fundamentals:
- Target Demographic: Young professionals priced out of traditional rentals but seeking privacy, community, and amenities.
- High Demand: Rising across core UK cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol.
- Operational Track Record: Institutional-grade operators are scaling portfolios with data-led, professionally managed assets.
- Planning Policy Support: More local authorities are integrating co-living into housing targets and urban design frameworks.
The Institutional Investment Case for Co-Living
For investors, co-living presents a powerful combination of resilience, yield, and demographic alignment. Key features include:
- Attractive Yield Premiums over traditional build-to-rent (BTR)
- High Occupancy Rates driven by affordability and lifestyle demand
- Operational Efficiencies from shared services and smart building tech
- ESG Integration via communal design, lower per capita emissions, and efficient space usage
Additionally, many co-living schemes meet the evolving preferences of Gen Z and Millennials, offering an experiential product that blends private space with social infrastructure.
What Makes a Successful Co-Living Asset?
Performance in this sector hinges on thoughtful design, location, and operator capability. The most successful schemes feature:
- Private en-suite rooms
- Shared lounges, kitchens, gyms, and co-working areas
- In-house events and wellness programming
- Proximity to employment hubs and transit
These attributes contribute to strong retention, brand loyalty, and rent premiums—especially in supply-constrained urban areas.
Planning and Policy Landscape
London remains the UK’s most advanced co-living market, but regional authorities are catching up. Savvy developers are working closely with planners to incorporate affordable price points, community value, and sustainable operations into proposals.
Supportive policy—paired with proven operational outcomes—is opening the door for more planning consents and pipeline growth across key UK cities.
Final Thought: Co-Living at a Turning Point
2025 marks a true turning point for co-living. Institutional capital is scaling up, operational maturity is clear, and demographic demand is deepening. This is no longer an alternative asset class—it’s an established pillar of modern urban living.
At Turning Point Capital, we believe co-living is a long-duration growth theme. We’re actively exploring opportunities to partner with best-in-class developers and operators to bring scalable, socially aligned residential strategies to the UK market.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is co-living?
Co-living is a shared residential housing model where tenants rent private bedrooms with access to communal amenities like kitchens, lounges, and gyms.
Who lives in co-living properties?
Young professionals, remote workers, and digital nomads—primarily aged 22–35—seeking affordable, high-quality accommodation in urban areas.
How does co-living differ from build-to-rent (BTR)?
Co-living features smaller private units and more extensive shared spaces. It’s designed for community, flexibility, and operational efficiency.
Why are institutional investors interested in co-living?
For its high occupancy, strong yields, ESG alignment, and appeal to future urban renters. It complements existing residential portfolios with diversification and growth potential.
What cities have the strongest co-living potential?
London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and Glasgow—all with rising young populations, housing constraints, and urban regeneration pipelines.
