pledge from €2000… joining us
yes! for the cost of a month or two at a coliving you can own part and only pay costs
(more or less, whatever suits you) or invest for a ~10% yield
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What's a coliving hub?
A shared home and workspace, where we also share some of our purpose and learnings.
For a workation to escape routine, as a retreat to dig into projects, or as a base.
Be you an entrepreneur, remote worker, digital nomad, a creative, or anything else!
Learn about coliving at some of our favourites, Sun and Co in Spain, Nine in the Canaries and Playworking in Montenegro. So what if we owned one collectively to use at-cost…?!
We're creating amazing new spaces—reinvigorating old ones!
Benefit from shared facilities (cinema, bikes, workspaces, ice-cream maker, …).
Get closer to nature whilst remaining connected to the wider world.
Stay affordably, buying into use of properties as you are able.
Be part of community respecting innovation and independence.
Our purpose as a member owned housing co‑operative will be providing affordable co‑ownership, giving us flexible and guarenteed use of spaces at cost.
As participants in a dynamic ecosystem we share its opportunities whilst generating rental revenue as a social enterprise — reinvesting in hosting workshops, talks, and activities, enriching not just ourselves, but the wider community. By embracing diversity and serendipity as a community we create vitality in our lives.
By doing it collectively, we reduce our footprints and enhance the effects, across locations…
Facilities to accommodate all of us…
- choice of accommodations — microstudios, ensuite, basic rooms, 'pod' dorms
- dedicated coworking — separate lively and quiet workspaces
- a lounge, casual areas, library and privacy nooks
- outdoor space, ideally more than a terrace, with sauna and firepit/bbq
- close to public transit and shops
- multiple station kitchen and dining for collaborative cookups
- address use and luggage storage for the (digital) nomads amongst you
- a minibus for communal trips
- strolls from the door and activities nearby
The original campaign
- conversion of an old mill in the Portuguese mountains with a direct train to Lisbon
- many hundreds interested with 135 pledges for launch (stats)
- I met the town council and some of us visited during a parsnip festival(!)
- rejected as too much work and risk for a first effort, also the umm pandemic…
The plan—part deux!
- the Cévennes, south of France🇫🇷
- €180k 1500m² large old solid village building
- ~10 dedicated cohousing from €20k
- ~14 ensuites from €1500 per month of coownership
- over 35% common spaces
- closer to many impressive and varied attractions, villages and towns
- railway station at door for Barcelona and Paris in 5h, plus 6 airports
- more properties in future as members join or start your own collectives
- details for the lead candidate…
If this sounds interesting to you please share your intentions, and you'll have to be quick if we only do a smaller property as there'll not be many shares. So do make a pledge!
Why France?
It's cheap for acquisiton and there's no surprises. Property sales have fallen through the roof, 900 agents closed last year — combine with new renovation requirements for rentals that owners don't want to pay for, thus prefer to sell giving an excellent opportunity for conversion to coliving. More to the point, I'm familiar with the country having done renovation here. Infrastructure is good, and everything runs like clockwork. Well, except when they're on strike…
It's also sorely overlooked amongst digital nomads due to generally being expensive, whilst having exceptionally strong historic tourism demand, thus established appeal for anyone wanting to escape their home-office for a while!
For those wanting to maintain EU tax residency as a compromise of low cost with good services, choosing France's micro-entrepreneur status means you'd pay just ~22% in taxes on all revenues (none wthout turnover), covering all contributions (inc. base health and pension), simply filing your quarterly revenue total (no itemisation!), on revenues up to €77k (+rentals up to €15k).
The lower Cévennes / Saint-Ambroix
Super appealing with tons to explore – the excellent Cèze and Ardèche river gorges, and (as a daytrip) the Pont du Gard, plus up into mountains. Not to mention the towns of Andouze, Uzès and Alès. Really offers everything, plus cheapest properties.
If we don't have enough backers or prefer something smaller and easier, there are many other properties.
How might I use it?
The ideal use for Hub House co-ownership is as an annual retreat or base that you come back to between travels. Once we've more locations it'll be great for full time use too. 🥳
- come back every year (at different times!) to meet new folks and particpate in events
- stay some months to focus on work, freeing yourself to enjoy travels at other times
- if you're location independent, use as a base, storing seasonal clothes for when needed—perfect if you're not a minimalist
- to have and decorate a space of your own, using cohousing as a homebase, travelling sometimes
- save money staying longer and spend more on shorter escapes elsewhere
- stay in cheaper apartments during travels, and come back for the community
- come to meet friends who can easily stay in the same place with you
Get updates:
We're running it together—to all have a stake!
Whether you participate as a co-owner, an investor, or simply visit on rental, you do so as a member of our cooperative society, functioning within the space as a do-ocracy. To join us make a pledge then once we've agreed our plans, you'll be invited to apply for our community shares…
The simple way to consider how it works as a member is that when you buy into the co-op (with shares), you get to use the co-op's facilities at cost, proportional to its capacity (fractional use) for the value of shares you hold. Put even just a small amount of money into the co-op for a significant discount on coliving accommodation. When it no longer suits anymore, you can withdraw your shares.
Operations
- incorporated as a Co-operative Society in the UK for the mutual benefit of its members
- fractional co-ownership with community shares, returning their cost if you withdraw them*
- guaranteed use rights and value codified in the co-op rules held by the regulator
- flexible booking with at least 35% unallocated advance capacity
- volunteer staff (with stipends) looking after maintenance, driving and some catering
- maintenance fund covers costs into the future to avoid bad surprises
- community fund from revenue surplus allows us to invest in good surprises — events and new facilities
- may expand as a network of multiple properties exchanging co-owner use
- may expand to include premium commercial properties and those serving more specific needs such as for families and older age
(The following are indicative.)
Operational costs cover our recurring expenses for utilities, volunteers, and (importantly!) maintenance/renewals:
- ~€275 per month member expenses for any time with your shares
- else ~€350 (pod) – €950 (plus) per month for rentals (mid-season)
Capital costs are what we're raising to purchase, renovate and fit-out the property, split between multiple shareholders:
- coliving shares give use of the facilities at cost, flexibly adjusting to less time in a better unit or season (studio, summer), or more in a cheaper (pod, winter)
- cohousing shares (where available) give dedicated use of a private unit and all facilities, at cost (with your own fitout and decoration)
- preference shares give dividends up to 10% (potentially contributing to cost-free stays)
If you stay longer than your share value or have none, you pay the standard rental rates. If you don't use your credit, you can trade it with other members, or give to a friend.
With more properties we'll gain more freedom and variety whilst still bumping into some of the same people within a larger community network!
Your instigator is…
Jacob Jay — I created the first ever coliving hub offering public access coworking alongside short and long term accommodation (10 rooms +bunks), operating in Delhi for 4 years from 2010. When the lease was hiked and we moved out, the idea of co-ownership came to me. Location independent almost since birth(!) I understand the value of both having a base, and escaping to new places.
I'm looking for founding members! You'll join me in ratifying the co-op's articles, incorporating it, and buying-in first with me. See the pledge page or do reach out. The board will initially be formed of the founding members, as I'm not proposing a board of coliving peers this time around.
Say hi jacob@hub.house anytime, or meet me (from June 20th) for Bansko Nomad Fest, and join the likely many coliving debates… If you pledge, we'll have calls and arrange visits together.
How can I join-in?
Please see to the questions page for a bunch of common details on many topics…
- join the facebook group where we'll coordinate videochats and discussions
- pledge below, confirming with €1
- vote on properties to visit and have plans — or simply wait for a final candidate
- founding members will form the co-op making share purchases towards acquisition
- a group visit should be arranged
- when pledges and plans match, the founding members will open membership
- you'll be able to buy into the co-op with a deposit on your shareholding
- an offer will be made for purchase
(this process may repeat, with members able to withdraw deposits) - the remaining shareholdings will be paid to conclude purchase and get the keys
- any final members will join, closing funding for renovations