What is «cohousing»? The model of joint housing construction to which the Government is committed

What is «cohousing»? The model of joint housing construction to which the Government is committed

Cohousing or cohabitation in Spanish is a way of living in which spaces such as a kitchen or recreation areas are shared by the residents of the house, although each person has their own personal space or home.

In its Public Housing Plan for 2022-2025, the Government has included a special assistance program for this type of joint and cooperative housing in the expectation that the supply of this type of housing will grow in the coming years. According to a royal decree published in State Gazette, the government understands that in these dwellings, which can be designed for several generations, «spaces for communication increase the area compared to purely personal spaces, which allows for better integration and relations between residents».

The subsidies state that the lease agreement must be concluded for a minimum period of 20 years with a limited rent and for renters with limited income.

In cohousing, as Daniel Lopez states in his research, there can be several types of cooperation between tenants.

According to Maria Jose Pinera, a lecturer at the Faculty of Geography of the University of Santiago de Compostela, «the concept of cohabitation is developing, as in Europe it is not something new. In the beginning, this meant sharing common spaces, such as laundries in countries such as Denmark or Sweden. In the apartments, for instance, there was no washing machine, since this service was provided in the building itself, which the neighbors managed independently, with a schedule or shifts».

Madrid-based Morph Studio agrees, arguing that this type of residential model includes not only houses that can be owned, but also a number of services, such as laundries, gyms or communal spaces for use by residents, which contribute to the development of a sense of belonging to the community.

Jose Garcia Montalvo, Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University, adds that this type of residential model consists of individual houses or apartments organized around a common area that offers much more services than an ordinary residential area or apartment building. «For instance, it can include a gym, washing machines, dryers, a park for children's games, a hall for celebrations or a swimming pool», explains the professor.

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