Cardiff has emerged as the most sought-after city in Britain for shared living, as rising rents and the isolating effects of remote work push more tenants toward house shares, according to new research from HMO management platform COHO.
The analysis, which tracks live rental listings across Great Britain, found that 16.9% of shared living properties in the Welsh capital had already been let – well above the national average of 10.4%. London followed closely at 13.1%, while Brighton came in third at 12.2%.
Other cities experiencing above-average demand for house shares include Bristol (12%), Bradford (11.4%), and Liverpool (11%).
In contrast, major metropolitan centres such as Manchester (7.2%) and Birmingham (6.1%) are experiencing softer demand, suggesting that affordability and lifestyle considerations are playing an increasingly important role in tenant decision-making.
STUDENT STOPGAP
Shared living, once considered a stopgap for students and young professionals, is becoming an increasingly mainstream solution for urban renters priced out of one-bedroom flats. With average monthly rents continuing to climb in most UK cities, co-living arrangements now offer not only financial relief but also an antidote to social isolation.
Vann Vogstad, Founder and CEO of COHO, believes the shift goes beyond economics.
He says: “While it’s no surprise to see shared living thrive in expensive cities like London or Brighton, it’s about more than just cost-saving.
“In an age where loneliness is rampant and remote work has disconnected many from traditional sources of community, shared homes offer a vital sense of belonging.”
DUAL PURPOSE
According to Vogstad, co-living now serves a dual purpose: addressing the rental affordability crisis and responding to a more profound human need for social connection.
“The old assumption that new friendships come from the office no longer holds true for many. With hybrid or remote work now the norm, home is becoming not just a place to live, but the primary space where we find community.”
