Is co-Living right for students?

Are you a student who’s considering co-living? In this blog we’ll explain what it is & why co-living is perfect for students who are looking to rent in London.

Renting as a student is never easy - huge deposits, difficult landlords, less than cute living conditions - and not to mention pricey utility bills. If you’re a student living in London, we get that it can be pretty difficult to find quality accommodation that meets your needs and budget.

But what if we told you that there was an alternative that addresses all of your concerns head-on? Sounds great, right? Well, let us introduce you to co-living - a revolutionary concept that is redefining the way people live in London.

Wondering whether co-living is a good option for you? We’ve got you. Let us put your mind at ease as in this article below, we’ll explain exactly what co-living is, who we at ARK Co-Living are and why it is perfect for students like you who are looking for design-led, affordable accommodation here in London.

What is Co-living? So, what exactly is co-living?

Basically, it’s a modern housing concept that brings together like-minded individuals in shared living spaces that are designed to foster a sense of community, collaboration and convenience.

In co-living, members have their own private bedrooms or studio apartments (with private bathrooms and private kitchenettes) while sharing common areas such as (co-working areas, gym and other social spaces. ) First up, these spaces are carefully curated for you to use the way you want too - and unfurnished? Sorry, can’t relate. Here at ARK, we are fully furnished so you can pack up your clothes, gadgets and personal items and move right in as simple as 1, 2, 3.

But co-living goes beyond just sharing a place to sleep at night; it creates a vibrant, welcoming and supportive community where members can socialise, network, and connect in shared spaces and through aligned activities. With its emphasis on flexibility and the opportunity to make meaningful connections with fellow members, co-living offers a refreshing alternative to traditional living arrangements, especially for students in bustling cities like London.

Advantages of co-living vs a shared student flat

Now, we know what you’re thinking; ‘why should I choose co-living over living in a shared student flat?’ Believe it or not, co-living actually offers a tonne of advantages that can enhance your student life in ways you might not have thought about (arguing over the washing up? Never heard of it).

Rising living costs:

The cost of living crisis has shown that now more than ever, it’s important to budget (boring but true, cry). But as a student, we get that those rising utility bills can make that so much more tricky to do. This is one of the many advantages of co-living - unlike in a shared flat, your monthly bills here at ARK are included as part of your membership rate.

Oh, and let’s not forget that most co-living rates also include maintenance costs too. So, you can wave goodbye to the responsibility of pestering your landlord to fix that broken dishwasher or leaky sink (for the third month in a row, ugh). Instead, we’ll take care of these tasks for you, leaving you with way more time to concentrate on your social life - sorry, we mean your studies...

Flexibility is another key advantage of co-living. As a student, we get that you may face changing circumstances or have short-term study commitments. Whether you’re staying for a few months or over a year, you are totally welcome here with us and that’s why we offer flexible leasing terms that can adapt to your needs.

At ARK, you can stay for as little or as long as you need and all of your bills (including wi-fi because you didn’t choose the streaming life, the streaming life chose you) we offer flexible stays that include all bills and maintenance costs in your monthly ARK rate. Not to mention that we also DON’T require a deposit when you join us. Yep, you read that right - there’s no need to fork out hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds ahead of time to stay here - we don’t require even a quid deposit here at ARK.

Amenities and Services:

Co-living spaces in London (ahem, Ark Wembley) have an awesome lineup of perks and goodies that go way beyond what you'd find in a regular student flat.

Picture this: fully furnished studios that are design-focused and super cosy, communal kitchens that are ready for some serious cooking action, high-speed internet for all your streaming - sorry, studying - needs, state-of-the-art gyms to work up a sweat and chill common areas where you can kick back, chill out or even work.

These spaces are all about making you feel at home and giving you the perfect balance of comfort and convenience, so you can ace your studies while enjoying a seriously awesome living environment.

Community and social interaction:

Living in a co-living space as a student is like having a built-in social scene right at your doorstep. You're not just living under a roof with others - you're part of a friendly and vibrant community where friendships are made, collaborations happen and good times are had.

Imagine having multiple housemates who act like a built-in support system yet you aren’t all crammed into one crummy flat; ones who you can hang out with, watch movies or join in on some impromptu game sessions. Plus, the communal areas are literally designed for you to come together, chat, chill and have a laugh.

At ARK, we have an active and varied events calendar where all of our members can take part in weekly activities, whatever their interests - think yoga classes, scrabble nights, pottery making, and neon parties. You name it, we do it.

Dedicated workspace:

We know that it can be difficult to find a place without distractions to work from - and that’s why we’ve created a dedicated coworking space for our members. Forget being cooped up in your room or stuck in a library all day - instead, you can work alongside other members in our shared co-working space with everything you need to get sh*t done. Your own space to study, bounce ideas off others, brainstorm, cram for exams and meet those deadlines together.