We're creating amazing new spaces—reinvigorating old ones!

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 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!

• now restarting in the south of France🇫🇷
• a less ambitious property, avoiding significant works, or partly usable
• depending how many of us join in, it may be a:
1. small property of <12 rooms that's easily funded (most likely)
2. mid-size offering better facilities and some studios
3. large, with dedicated units, also for families and long term use
• followed by more in future as more members join or start your own collectives

If this sounds interesting to you we need to know 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 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 which 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!

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 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, being just 15mins train from two great little cities — Pau and Tarbes. There's a 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 and falling demand from pilgrims.

The 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; could be 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 can downsize the candidate and do others in future. For the first property to remain affordable we'll be doing a renovation which allows better space planning, and we'll use volunteers…albeit paying them to remain fair!

1. small and cheap

   broad choice

2. mid-size

   compromise?

3. pricier

   quite rare

Essentially two categories, a bigger property like this in a less good location yet giving tons of space including dedicated units, even for families and better for older age, or a smaller property in a more desireable location such as Provence…!

Couvent d'Aubin

86% €250k 1900m² complex

• apartments
• fabulous capacity for dynamism (despite location)
• interesting towns nearby
• immediately usable

• significant acquisition

• dubious weather
• unexciting surroundings

Needing works but capacity balancing good interactions, spaces and surroundings. Others in this price bracket are much larger and would provide dedicated units but have much tamer locations. Might be too much compromise.

Durfort

77% €150k 475m² satellite

• roof redone
• many villages and towns plus 1h beach

• almost no outdoor space but option of roof terrace

• larger acquisition without dedicated units

Easiest to acquire, those under 100k require a fair bit of work, those over are often partly usable but still need to be brought up to standard and expanded.

Lierres

86% €125k 300m² satellite

• good surroundings
• nice garden with views
• trainline reopening
• nominal works

• needs enlarging with newbuild extension

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*
• 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 any room and all facilities, at cost
• 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)

Your instigator is…

[right] Up in the Alps with Pelé of Coliving Frilingue and Nomad Fest who's running a similar project but oriented around dividends (so check it out if that sounds more up your street than our use-orientation).

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…

1. join the facebook group where we'll coordinate videochats and discussions
2. pledge below, confirming with €1
3. vote on properties to visit and have plans — or simply wait for a final candidate
4. founding members will form the co-op making share purchases towards acquisition
5. a group visit should be arranged
6. when pledges and plans match, the founding members will open membership
7. you'll be able to buy into the co-op with a deposit on your shareholding
8. an offer will be made for purchase
   (this process may repeat, with members able to withdraw deposits)
9. the remaining shareholdings will be paid to conclude purchase and get the keys
10. any final members will join, closing funding for renovations

Our values… we don't believe in believing too much!
🕴 Diversity and 🕵️‍♀️ dynamism.