In a survey designed to inform the industry and uncover emerging trends and preferences for Co-Living in the UK in 2025, Bidwells asked over 2,000 people living in London and the ‘big six’ cities: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester, finding that Co-Living concepts are gaining traction, with renters increasingly willing to trade property size for convenience, location, and social opportunities.
Ed Howe, Head of Operational Living Research at Bidwells, said: “Co-Living is Build-to-Rent’s (BTR) fastest growing sub-sector with around £1bn invested since 2020, however there is a real lack of data for this sector, something we sought to rectify via this study, with a large sample across age brackets and across the major cities.”
The survey highlighted growing awareness of the UK’s emerging operational living, Co-Living sector. Co-Living offers residents private, self-contained spaces alongside shared communal facilities, combining privacy with opportunities for social interaction and is a growing market in the UK with Co-Living planning applications peaking at 8,389 in 2024, over double from 2023.
Ed adds: “With the Co-living trend still very much focused on London and the larger regional cities, the research displayed a very similar geographical spread to where BTR multi-family was 10-15 years ago. While planning applications have slowed this year for Co-Living due to effects of the Building Safety Act, we believe that, as the industry digests the implications of this, the rise in attraction of Co-Living will fuel growth along the same trajectory as BTR multi-family.”
Oliver Heywood, Partner in Capital Markets at Bidwells, commented: "Co-living is rapidly becoming one of the UK’s strongest residential investment opportunities, with investor demand accelerating as schemes deliver strong rents, fast lease-up and dependable returns. As traditional Build-to-Rent faces growing pressures, co-living’s higher density, lifestyle-led offer and focus on flexibility position it as a vital solution to the UK’s evolving housing needs."
Key findings from the survey include a strong trend for urban living from those attracted to Co-Living space. Renters of all ages said they would have smaller homes in exchange for being in walkable areas close to work, amenities and friends. 64% said gyms or wellness facilities matter, while only 59% highlighted culture and nightlife. 84% of those surveyed said that proximity to shops and restaurants is a top priority, while 77% highlighted being near friends and social networks.
Ed says: “Interestingly, among ages 18-24, cleanliness, noise and lack of privacy were all raised as concerns. This may be due to that age group coming out of the covid era, however this age bracket, not surprisingly, was shown as the most open to communal living, drawn to the affordability and social and community appeal.”
While the research found a higher preference for Co-Living in lower age groups, respondents of all ages, across all cities surveyed, said that they preferred their own space (with own en-suite) compared to cluster based living, demonstrating the trend toward studio-based Co-Living, a move which operators are now adopting. The survey also found that 88% of renters now prioritise Wi-Fi, secure building access, and laundry facilities over gyms, co-working spaces, or rooftop amenities.
For the full survey, view the report here.
