They come with vibrant rooftop views, cozy backyard spaces, state-of-the-art kitchens and fitness centers, monthly networking events and parties, plus free weekly cleaning, all with average rent of just $1,600 per month.
All of this can be yours in New York City in 2024. All you need is a willingness to share with up to 30 of your closest housemates (and the bathroom, of course) and pass the vibe check.
But that’s a small price to pay, say many residents at Cohabus, a fast-growing Belgian co-living company that now has 14 properties in New York City, 400 members and growing.
One of them is Krista Guidry, 23. Her job as a pilot allows her to live near a major U.S. airport, and when she saw the Cohubs New York community featured on social media, the Arkansas native knew she’d found her next home.
“I saw a video that said, ‘Hey, have you ever wanted to move to New York City with 22 strangers?’ and I thought it sounded kind of funny,” Gidley told The Washington Post. “I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to be with other young, driven people.”
She signed a lease two days after contacting the company and moved in last March.
“When you’re single and move to a new city, especially in your 20s, you never want to live any other way,” enthuses one woman who turned to co-living. “The biggest thing was the community.”
Like other Kohabars, Gudry committed to a minimum of three months’ stay, but a spokesman told The Washington Post that the average stay is now a year, with many staying much longer.
She has her own room and shares two bathrooms with three other people on her floor, and Cohabs covers all utilities and bills, as well as extra expenses like toilet paper, dish soap, and basic olive oil for cooking.
Cohabs isn’t a hostel, though it aims for that communal atmosphere. And it’s not one of those Airbnb “hacker” houses, where you pay next to nothing beyond the cost of your bed. To maintain harmony, prospective tenants must go through an interview process designed to help “curate” the home.
The company distinguishes itself from other coliving and coworking schemes by owning properties in the U.S. For now, New York is its only U.S. location, with Washington DC due to open soon.
Applicants will participate in a 15-minute phone call and virtual tour and then be asked to apply. The process is completed within 24-48 hours. No credit score is required. There are no geographic restrictions; you can apply from anywhere. Currently, people from 27 countries live in New York City homes.
“Large cities often attract people from all over the world and have high barriers to entry, so finding an apartment can be very difficult for a variety of reasons,” Dan Clark, managing director of Cohubs, told The Post.
“In New York City, there really aren’t many good property management companies available unless you’re paying a huge amount of money, so we want to set an affordable price range for people from a variety of backgrounds.”
Prices range from $1,600 to $2,200, and while it might seem like a challenge to get everyone on the same page in a home for 30 people from all over the world, he points out that residents tend to choose their own properties.
“I feel like everyone who came here was looking for this special living environment,” Guidry said. “If you weren’t looking for that, or you’re not a very sociable person, living with 23 other people would probably be a hassle.”
Amin Touhari, a 31-year-old resident, isn’t disappointed either. Touhari, who is French, told The Washington Post that the U.S. is the sixth country he’s lived in, and that Cohab made it easier for him to come here.
“I was actually looking for something that was very agile and flexible, and Cohubs was basically the perfect way for me. I wasn’t keen on a 12-month rental agreement,” Tuhari said, noting that here, you only need to bring your clothes and money for rent. Everything else, including the internet, is arranged for you.
Lucie Dalençon, 26, also from France, loved her experience at Cohabus so much that she stayed for two years and now works for the company as a project manager.
“It just seemed to make sense to me,” Dalencon told The Washington Post. “It’s scary when you move to a new city and you don’t know anybody. You don’t know where you live, you don’t even know the city. But you hang out with people who’ve been there for a while, and they can help you.”
The place features one large kitchen, three smaller kitchens, two spacious rooftops, a large backyard for al fresco dining and barbecues, a fitness space and several lounge areas, and Dalenson speaks fondly of the regular group get-togethers that take place in the common areas.
“It’s just a lovely moment, almost like a casual Tuesday night. It’s nice to come home and really sit down and have a proper meal and forget about the worries of the day and just enjoy the time with the people you live with,” she said.
