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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to object to a large co-living dwvelopment near my home?

214 replies

Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 20:20

I live in the North East. The local paper published an article yesterday about someone applying to turn a shop near me into a "large co-living development' with 18 rooms and communal area. Aimed at young professionals apparently and they're denying it's a HMO.

It's obviously a HMO

There's no parking. The space is small. It's 3 minutes walk from a primary school. I've looked up the developers - they're based in London.

Would you object?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 22:17

cestlavielife · 21/03/2026 22:13

What does a rapist look like op? They come from all classes

It's not about what they look like. The HMOs nearby have housed people who are rapists (convicted whilst living in the HMO, having raped women in it) and drug dealers and machete wielders

I'm sure that statistically that many crimes wouldn't occur on a street without an hmo

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 21/03/2026 22:13

What does a rapist look like op? They come from all classes

Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 22:12

Weekly cleaners?

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 21/03/2026 22:07

I think most people in a low end HMO will be on benefits and will not be able to afford an HMO aimed at young professionals.

It is not young professionals who carry machetes. and if there will be weekly cleaners then they wouldn't be able to hide a grow flat. No development can guarantee there will be no rapists in the buildin, just like any street in a new build area.

Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 22:05

It's not an area that wealthy people would choose to live.

OP posts:
grizzlyoldbear · 21/03/2026 22:04

I think you have to be quite wealthy to live in these, they're really boutique, not like HMO's at all. There's a few in London which I thought looked really nice and think it's a good way of building community where there are isolated people who don't want to live alone.

Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 22:02

Sidebeforeself · 21/03/2026 21:58

You still haven’t explained your comment about a primary school

If this development attracts the same kind of people as the one nearby then it'll be rapists, drug dealers, growers, people who attack others with machetes.

OP posts:
Sidebeforeself · 21/03/2026 21:58

You still haven’t explained your comment about a primary school

mondaytosunday · 21/03/2026 21:51

No. What’s wrong with an HMO? My student DD lives in one, and many young professionals that’s the only way they can afford to live in London is by renting in a house share. Sounds like a good idea to me.

JulietteHasAGun · 21/03/2026 21:46

ThreadneedleRoad · 21/03/2026 20:49

I’m not in the UK, but the kind of development the OP describes wouldn’t get planning permission here if it had a car parking space per occupant. Policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions etc — lot of urban planning guidelines aim to minimise or eliminate parking, and to encourage public transport use.

Plus I assume that if this is targeting renters who don’t own vehicles.

Show quote history

Agree with this. Dd lives in a massive coliving building aimed at young professionals. The building is 50 floors high and there must be about 40-50 people on each floor. Not a single parking space and that was actually considered a positive when planning permission was granted. They don’t want cars and the traffic impact, they want people who are happy to walk/use public transport.

Her building is quite upmarket I would say. Certainly no issue with drugs or poor behaviour. She’s a young professional, they all have ensuite rooms, her flat has a shared kitchen and sitting area. The building has a large communal area (and a gym). It’s very sought after.

Sidebeforeself · 21/03/2026 21:38

HMOs can be problematic but this development sounds like it’s targeted at a specific demographic and therefore may price out the less desirable residents?

Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 21:32

Birch101 · 21/03/2026 21:31

Well someone who can't afford their own studio or 1bed to rent, doesn't want to share a bathroom with strangers and I am assume will have a weekly cleaner it's basically living in halls but with other workers not students,

if they do it right should have utility room and decent size en suite bedrooms and enough kitchen storage space for everyone.

Personally it's better if it's a large block as you can add in things like libraries and cinema rooms and you'd have regular cleaners so yes that doesn't sound great but still better than some of the house shares where you have to share a bathroom with some randoms

It's a small block. It was a cafe recently with a flat or 2 upstairs

OP posts:
Birch101 · 21/03/2026 21:31

Well someone who can't afford their own studio or 1bed to rent, doesn't want to share a bathroom with strangers and I am assume will have a weekly cleaner it's basically living in halls but with other workers not students,

if they do it right should have utility room and decent size en suite bedrooms and enough kitchen storage space for everyone.

Personally it's better if it's a large block as you can add in things like libraries and cinema rooms and you'd have regular cleaners so yes that doesn't sound great but still better than some of the house shares where you have to share a bathroom with some randoms

Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 21:29

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 21/03/2026 21:23

Why does it matter that the developer is based in London?

Because they're less likely to care who's living there surely?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 21:28

hahabahbag · 21/03/2026 21:01

We have such developments where I live and I’ve never heard of any issues, they are basically like student halls but for graduates/young professionals and not cheap

I just don't think that kind of thing would be needed here. House / flat prices are already really low up here

The HMOs nearby are trouble. I know that I sound like a NIMBY but I've seen how bad things get around them here

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 21/03/2026 21:27

Is it somethink like this? Ained at youg professionals
What do you think they will get up to?
You might be mixing things up op
Co-living | Live Like You've Never Lived Before | The Collective share.google/HlpoRkqJ1v2XlYNHg

TheBlueKoala · 21/03/2026 21:26

Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 20:58

No. That crime will increase. I'd love to think that it would be filled with young professionals but I genuinely don't think it will

A street a few minutes away has a few HMOs and there's been a huge increase in crime. Rapes, brawls, grow houses, drug dealing etc.

Young professionals want space to park, their own self contained apartment etc.

Show quote history

Agree. Noone wants professionnal thieves and rapists living nearby.

It's funny but those who are for them are the same ones who live far away from them.
Coincidence? I think bit.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 21/03/2026 21:23

Why does it matter that the developer is based in London?

HotRootsAndNaughtyToots · 21/03/2026 21:22

Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 20:43

I want to be open minded but what professional wants to live in a bedsit with shared communal area and no parking? I just can't see it.

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Young professionals want that sure, but many can't afford it. Like me pre-covid and costs are higher now, while wages stagnate

hahabahbag · 21/03/2026 21:01

Few youngsters can afford cars here

hahabahbag · 21/03/2026 21:01

We have such developments where I live and I’ve never heard of any issues, they are basically like student halls but for graduates/young professionals and not cheap

Original poster
Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 20:58

Fleur405 · 21/03/2026 20:45

What is it you object to exactly? That poor people might move in?

No. That crime will increase. I'd love to think that it would be filled with young professionals but I genuinely don't think it will

A street a few minutes away has a few HMOs and there's been a huge increase in crime. Rapes, brawls, grow houses, drug dealing etc.

Young professionals want space to park, their own self contained apartment etc.

OP posts:
ThreadneedleRoad · 21/03/2026 20:49

Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 20:43

I want to be open minded but what professional wants to live in a bedsit with shared communal area and no parking? I just can't see it.

Show quote history

A poor one.

ThreadneedleRoad · 21/03/2026 20:49

MrsKateColumbo · 21/03/2026 20:40

The parking situation sounds ridiculous, there should be as many spaces as rooms (assuming not somewhere with loads of on street parking)

I dont think the primary school point is relevant

I’m not in the UK, but the kind of development the OP describes wouldn’t get planning permission here if it had a car parking space per occupant. Policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions etc — lot of urban planning guidelines aim to minimise or eliminate parking, and to encourage public transport use.

Plus I assume that if this is targeting renters who don’t own vehicles.

HotRootsAndNaughtyToots · 21/03/2026 20:45

Mathsdebator · 21/03/2026 20:43

I want to be open minded but what professional wants to live in a bedsit with shared communal area and no parking? I just can't see it.

Show quote history

Those waiting to get on the housing ladder and not wanting to live with students for a start