A Guide to Co-living in Malaysia

Read this comprehensive guide to co-living in Malaysia. Find out the difference between co-living and renting. What are the benefits of co-living?

You may or may not have heard whispers about co-living before, but what is it exactly? Well, we’re here to explain everything and break it down into something easier for everyone to understand. From what is co-living to how to find a co-living space within Malaysia itself. Let’s go!

What is Co-living?

Co-living brings several people to live under one roof with easy access to shared common areas to cook, clean and connect with each other. It is a less lonely way to live and co-living locations are often in central locations with easy access to public transportation, convenient stores and more.

This relatively new concept is gaining popularity in Malaysia, offering an affordable and convenient way to live that is similar to renting. We’re all familiar with co-working spaces by now and co-living holds a similar concept. These places typically cater to working professionals and young adults seeking a home away from home that is filled with convenience.

Plus, there are co-living pioneers like Swing and Pillows who offer a unique concept of their own when it comes to co-living as well. They offer en-suite bathrooms attached to your private rooms by repurposing hotels into co-living spaces. A one-of-a-kind luxury co-living experience indeed.

Difference between Co-living and Renting

It is true that co-living and renting share a ton of similarities as they both involve renting a place. However, if you dig a little deeper, you will find that there are a host of differences between the two.

For starters, with co-living spaces, your tenancy is managed by the building’s management rather than a landlord which is easier to deal with. Additionally, co-living spaces often have common areas like a lounge or entertainment area for you to connect with others living in the same space. It is a great place to network with those who have shared ideals.

Occasionally, certain co-living spaces have weekly get-togethers, meetings and activities for everyone to air out their grievances or simply bond and have fun. Co-living holds a huge emphasis on community compared to simply renting a place. Lastly, co-living spaces usually come fully furnished so you don’t have to worry about forking out more money to purchase any furniture or appliances. Everything is readily available for your use.

Benefits of Co-living

Community

As previously mentioned, community is a huge part of co-living. Humans are social creatures, even if some of us are introverted. We need some form of social interaction with others to confide in them or be supported. With co-living, a community is easily accessible due to the numerous shared spaces that you will have to access to complete your daily chores or necessities.

For certain co-living spaces, they even emphasize that those who share certain ideals live in the same house. This way, you get to meet like-minded people more easily.

Convenient

Most of the time, co-living spaces are in hotspot locations so they can be highly convenient for working class adults or young adults in higher education. These spaces are usually within walking distance of public transportation like bus stops, MRT stations and LRT stations as well as are surrounded by affordable eateries or convenience stores.

Furthermore, if you don’t want to venture out of your comfort zone, the co-living space itself has a shared kitchen and laundry area for you to do your cooking and stay refreshed. Most of the time, these spaces even have free housekeeping services that come by weekly to make sure the space is clean and well-kept too.

When it comes to maintenance, the management typically has a team that will help you fix any issue for free so you don’t have to worry about finding a handyman or being one yourself.

Affordable

These co-living spaces are often more affordable than renting an apartment or room, especially in a prime location like the heart of KL. Those who are on a budget will find that these places help them save more money in the long run when it comes to transportation and food as well.

This is because public transport is quite cheap and the budget eateries surrounding the co-living space are highly affordable. If anything, you can even cook meals to save money. You’ll also save on housekeeping and maintenance fees as these are typically included in your rent money.

How to find a Co-living space in Malaysia?

With all this goodness, you’re probably excited to hop on the co-living train so let us give you a step-by-step on how to find a co-living space in Malaysia.

1. Use a co-living Malaysia platform like this Swing and Pillows one.
2. Enter your preferred location.
3. Browse the various listings and choose one that appeals to you.
4. Contact the agent on availability to view the property physically.
5. Do your background checks and reviews before committing to the place.
6. Enjoy your co-living experience!