Anybody who has even so much as dipped their toe in the murky waters of London’s flat-share scene will know that it’s not an activity for the faint of heart or weak of bank balance. Wading through a flood of listings in the hope of finding a home that doesn’t come complete with rats, rotting walls, and roommates that wouldn’t look out of place on a serial killer documentary is no mean feat. Okay, perhaps that last one was a tad dramatic, but you catch my drift: renting in London is hard, lonely, and really flipping expensive. But I may have just discovered an answer to your co-living prayers. And that, folks, is – well… Folk.
Folk Co-Living
Folk is an award-winning co-living brand with three sites dotted across London. On a mission to raise the bar for renting in London; Folk offers three gorgeous spaces with community and connection at their core. The sites (found in Battersea, Earlsfield, and Harrow) were each designed and built following extensive research from renters; intentionally eradicating the key issues that London renters currently face.
Each site boasts a number of beautifully-designed, fully-furnished, cosy and modern studio apartments. The apartments all boast a double bed, an en-suite bathroom and a kitchenette (with oven, hob, microwave, and fridge/freezer); so everything you need is right there for you. But the magic of Folk is most definitely found in its communal spaces. The sites each features communal kitchens and dining rooms, a games room, lounge areas, co-working spaces, rooftop terraces, a library, a cinema, and a state-of-the-art gym. And residents have access to them all, alongside a jam-packed programme of events, with activities ranging from crafts and cooking to candlelit concerts.
Living at Folk
So, let’s get down to business. How much does it actually cost to live at Folk? Well, a whole lot less than if you were to rent a studio flat on your own, let me tell you that for certain. Studio apartmnets at Folk start at £1800 a month. And that’s with all utilities included, plus access to the gym, the cinema, and events. To put that into perspective for you: an average studio flat in London costs around £2130, so it’s certainly a cost-effective way to live in the capital.
The perfect balance us seamless struck at Folk; offering residents a space to themselves but also serving up social interaction in spades (something that’s so important when it comes to tacking loneliness in London). The Battersea site, Florence Dock, also offers short-stay bookings (for those who wish to stay between 1 and 89 nights) – so it covers all bases, really.
So, what do you reckon? Could co-living transform the way we reside in the city? I’d certainly be open the idea…
Find out more about Folk Co-Living here.