Why Young Professionals are Leaving Traditional House Shares

Traditional house shares were once an irreplaceable part of the young professional’s life. However, as times change and standards rise, it’s no longer a way to live and build a career in the city but a frustrating, high-cost experience. The population in big cities keeps growing, generating demand and rental prices that don’t remotely match the lifestyles of modern workers. Is this the time we move away from shared houses?

Yes and no. To most young professionals, renting on their own is a pipe dream. However, house sharing doesn’t have to be as miserable as the traditional model makes it. With the new approaches, better suited for the needs of modern citizens, are emerging, the innovation-friendly workers are starting to make their move.

House Shares Were Once the Obvious Choice

10-20 years ago, traditional house sharing was a perfect solution. This has given young people an opportunity to live in expensive cities like London, build social lives and careers, and, eventually, move somewhere of their own. However, with the prices of both rent and expenses only growing, the time spent in houseshares keeps growing. 

Eventually, people in senior positions are still tied to renting. While young professionals were adaptable to inconveniences during the boom of traditional houseshares, they too now face much bigger demands in a much faster environment. Simply put, while traditional house shares were once successful, they are now outdated. 

Why Traditional House Shares No Longer Meet Modern Needs

Apart from what we’ve already mentioned, there are more reasons why traditional house shares are falling out of favour with today’s renters. As the expectations for life quality are no longer met, but prices keep growing, there are too many points of contention to overlook. We have some of them covered. 

Unpredictable Living Experience

First of all, property quality varies significantly. It can be down to price, location, contract conditions, the agent, additional costs, and many more. With generative AI taking over, many online listings also get enhanced, meaning you need to visit properties to gauge what it truly is like. If you’re living a journey away, booking multiple viewings isn’t always viable, nor is feeling out if there are any deep-seated issues during a sole visit.

Secondly, the most common unpredictable variable is housemates. The people you live with in the traditional house share can either make or break the experience, and the latter is more common. Simply put, everyone comes from a different background and carries a different understanding of cleaning/cooking/noise standards. Committing to living with strangers always bears a huge risk of life-quality-altering incompatibility. 

Young Professionals Expect More

We are past the time when home was only a place to sleep. With the introduction and widespread use of remote and hybrid working models, especially, home is now also an office. Forms of entertainment that were once only available outside, like games or cinema, are now also prevalent in most households. In other words, a bed and a roof above one’s head are not cutting it anymore. 

The changes in society and the workforce also leave most young professionals scrambling for time to care for themselves. Increased workloads demand a better-adjusted work-life balance, as well as convenience and flexibility. The expectations aren’t rooted in entitlement but rather in a genuine need. To many, home is a sanctuary where they get to unwind and recuperate – and traditional house shares are not fit for the job.

Reasons People Move Away from House Shares

Aside from the inconveniences and the quality-to-price mismatch, people are abandoning traditional house shares because they now have other options. The modern era calls for modern solutions, and new developments are better designed to support the needs of today’s young professionals.

Spaces Designed Around Modern Living

Modern living buildings are, for the most part, either freshly built or remodelled to meet today’s standards. Unlike most traditional house shares, they are better equipped with technology that ensures comfortable living, such as double/triple glazed windows, draft control, air conditioning, and so on. Not to mention, they’re often adjusted to reduce the impact on the planet by utilising better materials and energy expenditure.

Unlike traditional house shares, these buildings offer communal areas that stretch beyond the necessity and instead offer spaces to work, unwind, and socialise. They’re often more spacious, removing uncomfortable friction between the residents, and are managed by designated workers rather than the tenants themselves. Most importantly, they give young professionals control over their privacy – but that calls for a separate chapter. 

More Privacy Without Losing Community

Most traditional house shares are converted family homes. This is one of the reasons most of the communal areas are shared, without en-suite bathrooms and whatnot. Upkeep of the said areas is usually the point of contention in traditional houseshares instead of a place for socialising. In most modern buildings, however, shared spaces are designed to foster community, not conflicts. 

En-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes are a common asset of modern accommodations. Communal ones also exist, essentially providing the residents with options for how to navigate their privacy. Instead of one’s room being the only private space, residents moving away from traditional house shares are more in control of shaping their experiences, based on preferences or just their mood that day.

Is Leaving a House Share Worth It?

We believe so. Traditional house shares may appear cheaper, but often carry hidden costs and are nowhere near the level of convenience a modern renter needs. It’s an outdated model that is often stressful and offers little. With the new rent models available, it’s time to leave it in the past.

Why Co-Living Is Becoming the Natural Next Step

Co-living is the new trend with young professionals who are fed up with traditional house shares. Changing expectations within the rental market, this approach to shared living has already taken over Europe and is getting increasingly popular in the UK, especially in cities like London.

Focused on the lifestyle rather than the costs, it solves the majority of frustrations traditional house shares bring. Co-living offers a self-adjusted privacy-socialising balance, a number of amenities covering both work and leisure needs, and no hidden fees. With all the utility costs included in the monthly pay, young professionals no longer have to cope with shared living – it’s time they began to enjoy it. 

Summary

Traditional house shares were once essential for young professionals to be able to afford living in the big cities. However, as the workplace demands, the pace of life, the cost of living, and the prices of rent keep growing, they are no longer a solution but part of the problem. Today’s young professionals need more than a place to sleep – they need convenience, flexibility and a place they can tailor to their preferences. Traditional house shares, unfortunately, are none of these things. But the alternatives exist, and they are growing increasingly popular. 

Unlike most buildings that were converted into house shares, purpose-built or renovated buildings focus on the lifestyle. The life of young professionals is vastly different from before, juggling different working models and a hard-to-manage social life. New approaches such as co-living combine individual needs for privacy and the sense of community, as well as incorporating amenities that make lives ultimately comfortable. The residents, despite sharing common areas, are able to optimise their experience of the building. Things like the kitchen and bathroom are available to each resident as a part of their studio flat, whereas areas like the gym or co-working are for everyone’s use. Living comfortably shouldn’t be expensive – and co-living makes it affordable. 

Ready to ditch the traditional house shares? Come explore The Rex!