Why this long-term renter has called co-living home for four years — and counting

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When April moved into a co-living apartment in Balestier in early 2022, she expected to stay for only a short period.

More than four years later, she is still a co-living resident, albeit at a different property, and has no intention of leaving anytime soon.

"I came in thinking it was a short-term thing because I still needed to figure out my next move," says April, a Malaysian in her 30s who is now a Singapore permanent resident.

"But once I settled in, I just felt how much easier life is with everything being handled."

Her extended stay is somewhat at odds with the common perception of co-living as transitional accommodation.

Over those four years, April's circumstances have changed too. She went from having a place to herself to living with her husband. What she wants from a home and what she is willing to spend on it are also different today.

What years of renting taught her

April came to Singapore from East Malaysia in 2015 as a university student, and has been renting ever since.

She started working in 2018 and is now in the banking and finance sector. Her husband, who is from the same hometown in East Malaysia, works in the F&B industry.

Before trying co-living, April had rented several types of accommodation in Singapore.

These included a common room in a landlord-occupied HDB flat, a room in a landed house and an entire one-bedroom condo unit.

Some of her earlier rentals came with fairly strict house rules. At the HDB flat in Clementi, where she lived for around two years while studying, the landlord restricted how often and when tenants could use certain household appliances.

She was allowed to turn on the air-conditioning only from 8pm to 6am, while use of the washing machine was limited to twice a week.

"I don't really know how they monitored it. But I didn't disobey the rules, so I’m not sure what the consequences would have been," she recalls with a laugh.

Those years of renting have also helped April figure out what she prioritises in a home.

Hygiene tops the list, followed by comfort, space, location and price.

So particular is she about hygiene that a bathroom's condition can be a deal-breaker. A grimy or rundown bathroom would be enough to rule out even a spacious, well-located unit at an attractive rent.

"If the toilet is too dirty or too old, I wouldn't be comfortable living there," she says.

Her housing budget increased after she graduated and began earning a full-time income.

As a student, she had paid about $800 a month, including utilities, for the Clementi common room. Later, the one-bedroom apartment in Tanjong Pagar cost around $1,800 to $2,000 a month, excluding utilities and WiFi.

"Life is short," she says. “Once I could afford it, I thought, why not spend a little more on a bigger space for myself?"

More privacy than expected with co-living

While browsing online for rentals closer to her workplace in the CBD, April stumbled upon room listings by Coliwoo, a Singapore-based co-living operator.

She eventually viewed the firm's Balestier property and moved there in early 2022.

At the time, she had reservations about the concept. "My first thought when I heard of the 'co-living' term was that I would need to share everything with other tenants,” she says.

Instead, April realised that she could still have a personal space of her own. Despite its compact size, her Balestier unit — a Standard Murphy Queen studio — came with an attached bathroom, kitchenette and washer-dryer.

"Everything essential was there, it was all mine, it was entirely private, and I could have my own space," she notes.

"At the same time, there were also common areas like the lounge, so I could still have social interaction with others if I wanted."

Having a washing machine to herself was especially welcome, as she had seen fellow tenants at her previous rentals put soiled shoes and bags into a communal washer-dryer.

"I've seen those disturbing scenarios. That's why I don't like to share laundry facilities, and I’m very particular about hygiene," she adds.

Once she saw the Balestier unit in person, April felt it was the perfect fit for her needs at the time and immediately rented it.

Flexibility was another reason she decided to try co-living. In 2022, she was concerned about job security in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and was reluctant to lock herself into another year-long private rental.

With co-living at Balestier, the minimum lease available to her was three months, with more flexible rental terms if her circumstances changed.

"That gave me a real peace of mind in case of any change in my plans or job situation, as there was a lot of uncertainty then," she says.

Weighing value and convenience

Going by rent alone, co-living was the more expensive option for April.

She estimates that when she moved to Balestier, her co-living monthly rent was a few hundred dollars higher than what she had paid for the Tanjong Pagar one-bedroom condo.

"If I compare them purely based on cost, co-living has a bit of a downside, as it’s more expensive than private rentals," she acknowledges.

"But in terms of value [for money], if I factor in things like the amenities and convenience, the difference balances out."

The co-living rate included full access to the in-house gym — saving April the cost of a separate membership at a centrally located gym, which she notes can be pricey. Utilities, WiFi, weekly housekeeping and air-conditioning maintenance were bundled in too.

She also does not have to arrange for repairs herself. When the air-conditioning in the unit leaked, the problem was fixed within half a day of April notifying the staff.

"It saves me from the headaches that come with many traditional rentals. Especially after a long day at work, the last thing I want is to deal with some maintenance issue," she says.

Having spent four years at the Balestier property, April and her husband moved to the recently opened Coliwoo Midtown in Bugis earlier this year. Its location, closer to the CBD than their previous home, was one of the draws.

Situated on Middle Road, the property is two MRT stops from her office and close enough that she often walks home after work.

"So that’s a bit of exercise as well," April says, adding with a laugh that the regular walks have even helped her lose some weight.

The couple also likes the proximity to a temple they visit, as well as the variety of eateries in the vicinity.

That said, given the myriad tourist spots in and around Bugis, April points out that the area can get crowded at times, particularly on weekends.

Meanwhile, wellness is a key focus at Coliwoo Midtown, which has a fully equipped gym, ice bath facility and sauna booth. Residents can sign up for complimentary guided fitness sessions such as strength training and body-conditioning classes.

April regularly uses these and other shared amenities at the property, which she factors into the value of the monthly rent of around $3,500.

Making a small space work for two

April began her rental journey on her own. Her husband later joined her during her years at the Balestier property, and the couple now live together at Coliwoo Midtown in a Premier Chamber unit.

Their room is part of a triple-key setup, where three adjoining units share a kitchenette just inside a common entrance.

This means the couple shares the kitchen area with the occupants of only two neighbouring units, while retaining their own private living space.

Having ready access to a kitchen is important to April, who cooks around five times a week.

Beyond their day-to-day needs, living together in a compact apartment has required some adjustments to make room for their individual interests.

They have each carved out space for their hobbies: April does her Chinese embroidery, clay moulding and other DIY crafts on the bed, while the desk serves as her husband's gaming corner.

Their personalities influence how they use the common areas in the development too.

April describes her husband as an introvert who prefers a quieter environment, while she is more outgoing and inclined to socialise with other residents.

Their cosy room offers a retreat when they want time to themselves.

April, on the other hand, is more active in the communal side of co-living.

She attends parties where residents from different Coliwoo properties gather, uses the on-site gym frequently and takes part in their fitness classes. Her husband also joins her for such activities on occasion.

These have given April ample opportunities to make new friends and meet people from different walks of life — including students, working professionals, business travellers and families with young children, both local and foreign.

"If I'm living in a private apartment, I would hardly see the neighbours," she says.

"Here, we can get to know the other tenants, even from the rest of the co-living properties."

Choosing co-living again

When it came time to move on from Balestier Road earlier this year, co-living had already lasted far longer than the short-term stay April had initially expected.

Instead of returning to the conventional rental market, she chose co-living again and moved to the Middle Road property.

Part of that decision came down to her experience over the last few years. She appreciated the amenities, balance of community and privacy, and having the everyday practicalities taken care of.

For now, the arrangement continues to suit the couple.

"There's no strong reason for me to leave because this is suitable for my current life stage," April says.

Nonetheless, she recognises that her housing needs may well change in the future.

"Life sometimes may shift, whether it be a career move or my personal milestones, or if I just want to try something new down the road."

A different idea of home

Her idea of what makes a home has changed since she first tried co-living.

Before, she pictured home as a property that she owned, where she would have the entire apartment to herself and the freedom to furnish it as she wished.

"But I've come to realise that what matters to me today is a space that's comfortable, functional and stress-free," she shares.

"I don't actually need to equate homeownership with quality of life."

At the moment, April and her husband see greater financial sense in continuing to rent than committing to a home purchase in Singapore. They plan to remain in co-living for the foreseeable future.

That does not mean buying a property is permanently off the table — whether in Singapore or, if the couple eventually has children, back in Malaysia.

Future career moves, plans to start a family or other major life changes could prompt the couple to reassess how and where they live.

"Different life stages will bring different priorities," she says.

For now, those priorities are perhaps most apparent at the end of a demanding work day.

After long hours of back-to-back meetings, April values being able to come home to a quiet space without the added stress of chores and other responsibilities demanding her attention. It allows her to wind down and decompress before bed.

She says: "It's really heaven to me."

Property Diaries is a new series that goes behind the scenes of real estate transactions, featuring homebuyers, investors and renters sharing their search journeys, decisions and lessons learnt.