pledge from €2000… to join us for
yes! for the cost of a month or two at a coliving you can own part of one 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!
With your own independent lifestyle you need a house and workspace offering great common spaces and friendly faces all crossing paths. By embracing diversity and serendipity as a community we create vitality in our lives.
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.
Facilities to accommodate all of us…
- choice of accommodations — microstudios, ensuite, basic rooms, 'pod' dorms
- dedicated coworking — separate lively and quiet workspaces
- a library with privacy nooks, casual areas and lounge
- 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
Our purpose as a member owned housing co‑operative will be providing affordable co‑ownership, giving us use of spaces, growing across multiple locations.
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 doing it collaboratively, we reduce our footprints and enhance the effects.
The original campaign
- conversion of an old mill in the Portuguese mountains with a direct train to Lisbon
- hundreds interested with 135 pledges to launch (see stats)
- I met the town council and some of us visited during a parsnip festival(!)
- ultimately rejected as too much work and risk for a first effort, also the umm pandemic…
The plan—part deux!
- now restarting in the south of France🇫🇷
- a less ambitious property, avoiding significant works, or partly usable
- many property candidates to choose from … with your help!
Why France?
It's cheap for acquisiton and there's no surprises. Property sales have fallen through the roof, 900 agents closed last year, and many notaries can't pay themselves — combine with just introduced renovation requirements for rentals which owners don't want to do thus prefer to sell. 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…
Whereabouts?
Catalogne nord / Perpignan
France's last valleys before Spain, below the famous peak of Canigou. Not too far from the city and coast, and easy access from Barcelona. No rain!
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.
Hautes Pyrénées / Lourdes
This little town offers contrasts to other areas just 15mins train from two great little cities — Pau and Tarbes. There's funicular at the door up a little peak that's hosted MTB championships, with great hikes near, proper mountains and skiing 30+mins. Even an airport 15min. Properties are hotels closed due the pandemic.
Cote d'Azur / Toulon
Everyone knows how nice it is, so no pictures. Very expensive, yet there's just one candidate, maybe 35% more expensive than the other areas and within striking distance of everything; maybe worthwhile…
Some candidates…
If you want to join any visits and to see more, do pledge and vote to join our Whatsapp group. We'll see how things go… we have options so if we don't have enough backing for what we all think will work best, we'll just downsize and do others in future.
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nicer and pricier
quite rare -
mid-size
good compromise? -
small and cheap
wider choice
Pont
100% €198k 800m² mini-hub
- garden and massive unusual vaulted cave
- great region with diversity
- trainline reopening
- some apartments ready to use
- a couple of studios
- a neighbouring property for dedicated
- significant acquisition
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
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… Why work from one place? Don't get stuck — make a habit of wider horizons!
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*
- flexible booking with over 30% 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
(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 any room and all facilities, at cost;
1 month every year for around €500 in a pod, or €925 for an ensuite - 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 paying up to 10% (potentially contributing to cost-free stays)
If you stay longer than your share or have none, you pay the standard rental rates. Shares are flexible, if you take a different type of room the time is adjusted. If you don't use your time, you can give to a friend, or trade it with other members.
For this to be worthwhile, you should expect to use it most years over the next ten years or so. We are expecting to add more properties thus allowing you to use any!
Get updates:
Your founder is…
Jacob Jay — I created the first ever coliving hub offering public-access coworking with both short and long term accommodation (10 rooms plus bunks) at the same space in Delhi, operating 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.
You can reach out to jacob@hub.house anytime, and the questions page has a pile of details.
I'm looking for founding members! If you're interested you'll join me in forming the co-op, ratifying its articles, and buying-in first alongside 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.
How can I join-in?
- pledge and confirm with €1
- vote on properties to visit and have plans — or simply wait for the final candidate
- founding members will form the co-op making share purchases towards a deposit
- a group visit should be arranged
- when pledges and plans match, the founding members will vote to open membership
- you will 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