Singapore has announced a pilot co-living program for young people
In Singapore, as part of the SG Youth Plan, a pilot co-living program was announced for young Singaporeans aged 21 to 35. Two operators have set aside more than 100 spots for participants at discounted rates. As of August 12, more than 600 people had expressed interest in the initiative, according to Channel NewsAsia, citing a representative from the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth.
Most of those interested are unmarried young adults. Most participants cited a desire for more personal space and the experience of living independently as their main reasons for interest. Observers view co-living as a transitional stage between living with parents and buying one’s own home, rather than as a replacement for home ownership.
Minister for National Development Chi Hong Tat stated that the structure of households and the housing aspirations of Singaporeans are changing. According to him, the government recognizes the demand for flexible housing options among young people who initially want to rent and eventually buy their own homes. At the same time, encouraging homeownership remains an important part of the country’s social policy.
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Sumit Agarwal, a professor of economics and real estate at the National University of Singapore, noted that young people are marrying later, changing jobs more frequently, spending time abroad, and may seek an independent lifestyle before marriage. Tan Ern Ser, a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies, believes that this model could foster social interaction among residents but would serve as a temporary option until marriage or until the age of 35, when people become eligible for public housing.
Prices under the pilot program start at 1,800 Singapore dollars per month for a room at 1925 Quarters, from 1,950 Singapore dollars at Coliwoo Boon Lay, and from 2,000 Singapore dollars at Coliwoo Lutheran. Operators offer furnished rooms, concierge services, and shorter lease terms: at Coliwoo, housing can be rented for as little as one month, whereas HDB flats require a minimum lease of six months.
Experts caution that this model may be accessible primarily to young professionals with higher incomes. At the same time, they do not view the pilot as a change in Singapore’s housing policy: the program is limited in scope, is not government-funded, and the discounts are provided by the operators themselves.
