pledge from €1 800… to join us
(more or less, whatever suits you) or invest for an ~8% 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 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
- an old mill in the Portuguese mountains with a direct train to Lisbon
- hundreds interested with 135 confirmed pledges (plus many more, 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
- participate in candidate selection with your votes!
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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larger and pricier
impressively rare -
mid-size
good compromise? -
small and cheap
wider choice
Amelie les Bains–Bellevue
94% €297k 800m² hub
- lovely spot above stream
- lots of studios
- easy access from Barcelona
- great weather
- pleasant village
- beach and city 45mins
- mainly fitout works
- significant acquisition
- nature somewhat lacking variation
- drought risks (ongoing)
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…
Canigou / Vallée du Tech
The lead candidate above is in France's last valley before Spain (yes, no rain) below the famous peak of Canigou. Has less to offer yet is 45mins from both the city and coast, and the (only) property is big enough to be a great space.
The lower Cévennes / Saint-Ambroix
Super appealing with tons to explore – the excellent Cèze and Ardèche river gorges, and (if pushing a bit far) the Pont du Gard, plus up into mountains. Not to mention the towns of Andouze, Uzès and Alès. Really offers everything. Good choice of different 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 starting nearby, proper mountains and skiing from 30mins. Even an airport 15min. Properties are hotels closed following the pandemic.
How can you join-in?
- pledge confirming with €1
- vote on properties to visit and draw up plans
- founding members will form the co-op making share purchases for a deposit
- a group visit should be arranged
- when pledges and plans match, an acquisition vote will be taken
- those having a matching pledge will buy into the co-op with a 35% deposit on their stake
- an offer will be made for purchase
- the remaining 65% for stakes must be completed to conclude purchase
- all remaining backers will buy-in to fund the renovations
How might I use it?
The ideal use for Hub House 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
- to have and decorate a space of your own, using cohousing as a homebase, traveling sometimes
- gather your remote team together for its annual retreat
- 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
- how you use a hub is up to you, if it can enable you to persue your best lifestyle…!
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:
- ~€250 per month member expenses for any time with your shares
- ~€300 (pod) – €850 (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 between around €1 800 in a pod, or €3 200 for an ensuite - cohousing shares give use of a private unit and all facilities, at cost;
(plus your own fitout and decoration) - preference shares give dividends paying up to 8% (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 you get more or less time with your shares. If you don't use your time, you can give to a friend, or trade it with other members.
Say hi to our founder…
You can reach out to jacob@hub.house anytime, and the questions page has a pile of other details. Anyone wishing to make a significant investment alongside me, is invited to be a founding member.