What is a shared house for freelancers? We'll explain the benefits and points to note!

The advantages of freelancers living in a shared house

Choosing a place to live is a crucial point when working as a freelancer. Since a stable income may not always be guaranteed, a flexible living environment is essential.

Shared housing is an ideal option to meet the needs of such freelancers. The following five points highlight its specific advantages:

Even freelancers can easily pass the tenant screening process.

One of the problems freelancers often face is the application process when looking for new housing. Typical rental properties often require regular proof of income or a guarantor, which can be a significant obstacle.

However, in the case of shared housing, many freelancers find it easier to pass the tenant screening process compared to typical rental properties. This is mainly because many operators understand the instability of income and the freedom of work, making it easier to accept entrepreneurs and aspiring freelancers.

In shared housing, the personality of the residents and their ability to cooperate in communal living are highly valued, so the fact that these personal qualities, in addition to income, are evaluated is an advantage for freelancers.

Furthermore, since many properties do not require the use of a guarantor company, the procedures and conditions required for moving in have been relaxed, making it easier to move suddenly or change your lifestyle due to a project. This will be a great support for freelancers when they take on new challenges.

Costs can be kept low.

For freelancers, keeping fixed costs low is crucial. When it comes to housing, the goal is to secure a comfortable living space while keeping costs down. This is where the advantages of shared housing become apparent.

Compared to typical rental properties, shared housing is gaining attention as an option that can significantly reduce fixed housing costs. Specifically, many shared houses have low initial costs.

Typically, rental properties require initial costs such as security deposits, key money, and brokerage fees that can amount to several months' rent. However, in many cases, these costs are unnecessary or significantly reduced in shared housing. This reduces the financial burden of moving, even for freelancers just starting out with limited funds.

Furthermore, monthly rents are set lower than the surrounding market rates, and utilities such as water, electricity, and internet access are generally included in the rent as a common area maintenance fee. This makes monthly expenses predictable, making it ideal for freelancers with unstable incomes.

There is an opportunity to interact with people from other industries.

For freelancers, interacting with diverse people is key to unlocking new ideas and business opportunities.

Share houses naturally create opportunities for such interaction by providing an environment where people from different professions live together. In fact, living in a share house allows you to interact with people from various industries whom you wouldn't normally have the chance to meet.

For example, conversations with people possessing diverse expertise, such as writers, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and freelancers, often spark stimulating ideas. This kind of environment is an excellent opportunity to alleviate the loneliness often associated with freelancing and simultaneously expand your professional network.

In a shared house, casual interactions often begin in the common lounge. You might even find that a housemate you chat with over coffee could become your future business partner.

Furthermore, living in a shared house increases opportunities to learn new skills that are useful for freelance work. You can learn a lot from people with different backgrounds, which will directly lead to an improvement in the quality of your work.

Thus, a shared house functions not merely as a living space, but as an environment that promotes growth and development.

A workspace can be secured outside of the living space.

For freelancers, a clear separation of private and work spaces is a crucial factor in increasing productivity. Shared housing offers an advantageous environment in this regard.

Many shared houses have common lounges or cafe-style workspaces that residents can use freely. These spaces are ideal for residents to relax and work efficiently, especially on days when they can't concentrate on work at home or when they want to seek inspiration in a different environment.

Furthermore, shared spaces often have Wi-Fi access and work equipment such as monitors, allowing you to get a comfortable work environment without the cost of going to a cafe. This directly translates to saving time and money for freelancers who frequently work outside the office.

Moving is easy if you choose a furnished apartment.

Many freelancers frequently move around flexibly. In such cases, minimizing the hassle of moving is essential.

Share houses that come furnished with furniture and appliances offer a significant advantage in this regard. With furnished properties, freelancers don't have to go through the trouble of buying and transporting heavy appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and microwaves. This allows them to transition to a new home quickly and smoothly.

Furthermore, in shared housing, cooking utensils and tableware are often provided on a shared basis, eliminating the need for individuals to prepare these items themselves. This significantly reduces the amount of belongings needed when moving, lowering initial costs and making it easier to adapt to a new location. This convenience is particularly valuable for freelancers who frequently relocate.

Characteristics of freelancers who are not suited to living in a shared house

Despite the many benefits that shared housing offers, it's not the best option for all freelancers. For individuals with certain lifestyles or personality traits, the shared housing environment may not be suitable. Here, we'll look at the characteristics of freelancers for whom shared housing might not be recommended.

People who like to spend time alone

While freelance work offers the enjoyment of flexible hours, it often requires privacy and quiet. For those who value spending time alone, living in a shared house isn't necessarily ideal. In a shared house, you're constantly aware of the presence of other residents, making it difficult to have your own personal space. In particular, social activities in common areas are unavoidable, so it may not be suitable for people who find interacting with others stressful.

Furthermore, shared houses may not have adequate soundproofing, and you may often be bothered by the sounds of other residents' daily lives. This can be a major obstacle to concentrating on work. If you value your alone time and want to work in a quiet environment, we recommend choosing a living environment that offers more privacy than a shared house.

People who cannot follow the rules and usage guidelines for shared facilities.

Even those who choose a flexible work style as freelancers must abide by certain rules when living in a shared house. There are clear rules that all residents must follow regarding the use of shared facilities.

This includes rules regarding kitchen cleaning, bathroom usage times, and even noise regulations. For those who find it difficult to follow these shared rules, the shared house environment can be a source of stress.

People who live a life with their day and night reversed

For freelancers with a reversed day-night lifestyle, a shared house isn't always the best option. Many shared house residents have a standard daytime activity schedule.

Therefore, by the time someone with a nocturnal lifestyle starts their activities, other residents are often already asleep, and the noise they make can potentially disturb the rest of other residents.

Furthermore, there are often restrictions on the usage time of shared facilities and workspaces within shared houses, which can be inconvenient for those who work late at night or early in the morning. Being restricted during the time when you are most productive can potentially decrease your work efficiency.

To avoid such situations, freelancers who lead a nocturnal lifestyle should carefully check the details of the daily routines and available facilities beforehand when choosing a shared house, and select an environment that suits their lifestyle.

Points to note when using a shared house

Share houses offer many benefits to freelancers, but to make the most of them, you need to understand a few things before moving in. By checking and understanding the following points in advance, you can start your share house life more comfortably and effectively.

Pay attention to the rules of the property and the basic manners required for living together with others.

Living in a shared house is about finding a balance between individual freedom and communal living. Even those who work freely as freelancers are expected to follow certain rules and manners in a shared living space.

Some properties have specific rules, such as restrictions on bathing times or noise management at night. These are important rules to prevent conflicts with other residents. It is essential to carefully check these rules before moving in and consider whether they can suit your lifestyle.

Furthermore, in common areas, daily manners, including cleaning, significantly impact the comfort of communal living, so adhering to them will form the foundation for building good relationships with other residents. Avoiding selfish behaviors such as using the kitchen late at night or talking loudly, and being considerate of others, will lead to a happy living experience in a share house.

Check the size and facilities of the shared spaces in advance.

For freelancers, the work environment directly impacts productivity. Therefore, when choosing a shared house, it's essential to check the size of the common areas and the quality of the facilities beforehand.

Appropriate shared spaces not only improve work efficiency but also significantly impact living comfort. For example, a shared house with a large lounge or multiple common areas provides an ideal environment for when you can't concentrate on work in your private room or when you need a change of scenery.

Furthermore, these spaces are often equipped with essential business amenities such as Wi-Fi and printers, providing easy access to the resources needed for freelance work.

When choosing a property, it's important to thoroughly investigate not only the facilities like the shared kitchen and bathroom, but also the workspace environment. Choosing a share house that suits your work style and lifestyle will be fundamental to a fulfilling freelance life. By gathering information carefully beforehand and actually visiting the properties, you can make a choice you won't regret.

Check the furnishings and appliances provided.

When freelancers choose a shared house, the included furniture and appliances are important points to check. These amenities significantly reduce the hassle and initial costs of moving, but the range of amenities provided varies from property to property.

While some shared houses only provide a bed, others are fully equipped with a desk, chair, refrigerator, and washing machine. To work efficiently and live comfortably, it is essential to check in advance whether these facilities meet your needs. For example, if you do a lot of remote work, it is important to check whether a suitable desk and chair are provided as a workspace.

Furthermore, you need to consider how much the kitchen facilities will affect your daily meal preparation. When choosing a share house, carefully checking how these facilities are actually provided before moving in and selecting an environment that suits your lifestyle will be key to a satisfying share house experience.

Check if it's a shared house with many freelancers.

When working as a freelancer, interacting with people in similar situations can be a great source of support. Therefore, when choosing a share house, be sure to check whether there are many freelance residents. In a share house with many freelancers, a community of mutual understanding is more likely to form, and residents can offer each other business advice and emotional support.

Freelancers should choose shared housing carefully.

For freelancers, shared housing is an attractive option for cost-effective and flexible living. The ease of the application process, low cost, opportunities for interaction, diverse workspaces, and the convenience of furnished accommodations are major advantages. However, it may not be suitable for those who value solitude, those who cannot follow shared rules, or those with reversed day-night schedules. Choosing a shared house that suits your work style and lifestyle is key to a comfortable freelance life.

Cross House offers affordable shared housing in popular areas. If you are interested in living in a shared house, please feel free to contact us.