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Original poster

OWCH (Older womens communal housing)

78 replies

womaninatightspot · 27/06/2021 07:49

Only in my 40's and DC are primary school age so this is a future plan but I quite like the idea of having a small place within a female based cooperative. Neighbours helping each others out etc.

I can't imagine moving to London (the cost!) but do you think these schemes will become more popular as time goes on. Is there anything like this in your area?

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 27/06/2021 07:51

I think they will become more popular, whether it be female only or mixed sex.
It's an excellent model for living as we get older imo.

YouWereGr8InLittleMenstruators · 27/06/2021 07:53

Following with interest, as this is something that I too have been thinking about!

justanotherneighinparadise · 27/06/2021 07:54

I always loved the idea of this too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Benefits General education
Cazzovuoi · 27/06/2021 07:55

I was thinking about this myself only last week. I would love to live in a female only community, for many many reasons. I have never found one close to me though.

SnoozyBoozy · 27/06/2021 07:55

Why female only just put of interest? Is it a safety thing? What happens when the kids (possibly boys) grow to be teenagers, would you have ask them to leave at a particular age?

I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea and I think communes could be a great place to bring your kids up in the right environment, but I don't know how it would work practically.

Cazzovuoi · 27/06/2021 07:56

What happens when the kids (possibly boys) grow to be teenagers, would you have ask them to leave at a particular age?

As it’s older women, male children wouldn’t be a factor.

TheQueef · 27/06/2021 07:59

I'd love this.
The only similar, that I know of, local to me is a mixed retirement village scheme originally for ex miners but that has had a Committee problem forever.
I know it'd be mired in issues but a woman only residential area would definitely attract me.

FindingMeno · 27/06/2021 08:00

I also think communal living can be a great idea for lone parents.

StillCalmX · 27/06/2021 08:01

Yeh, a house share I wouldn't want, but a one bedroom unit with its own front door but within in a co-operative complex, I could see the benefit there.

HeronLanyon · 27/06/2021 08:02

I’m packing suitcase now - only mid 50s but want to be ready to go without fuss when we’ve sorted the practicalities.

Original poster
womaninatightspot · 27/06/2021 08:08

I think the idea is that woman live here once kids are grown up and left home. I wouldn't just now but the idea of selling up in my mid fifties and enjoying a female environment is tempting.

The rules all seemed really sensible and would assume fellow residents would also subscribe to the idea of socialiable living without anti social twatty behaviour.

OP posts:
BumbleFlump · 27/06/2021 08:17

I have an elderly relative who lives somewhere similar to this. I don’t think it’s female only however it seems to be mainly women who live there. It’s a block of small, one bedroom flats which are too small really for a couple. So it’s not a commune as such, everyone has their own space - but still a lovely community.

StillCalmX · 27/06/2021 08:20

I'm 51 with a 15 year old son and I worry he'll never move out. So one day I might sell up from under him and move on to an arrangement like this! in 6 years, not in 18 months......

MayIDestroyYou · 27/06/2021 08:30

It's very much on my mind as something to look into quite soon.

Annoyingly I read an American article on just this subject yesterday - but I can't find it now.

(PS - OP, communal living in older age is also an attractive idea for many child free women - so I hope you won't invariably suggest it only for mothers of grown up children?)

HeronLanyon · 27/06/2021 08:34

Interesting article today (ant remember think huff post ) about older LGB people having essentially to go back into the closet to connect with residential services for elderly. And setting up LGB friendly retirement communities. Interesting read.

purpledagger · 27/06/2021 09:33

I think it's a great idea, but everyone has to be on the same page for it to work.

A relative of mine lives in a retirement village and I thought it was great, when I visited - they have their own small apartment, but lots of communal areas and council arrange weekly transport to thr supermarket/town etc. I said it felt a bit like living in Halls at Uni.

Original poster
womaninatightspot · 27/06/2021 09:34

@MayIDestroyYou

It's very much on my mind as something to look into quite soon.

Annoyingly I read an American article on just this subject yesterday - but I can't find it now.

(PS - OP, communal living in older age is also an attractive idea for many child free women - so I hope you won't invariably suggest it only for mothers of grown up children?)

I'm sure it is appealing for lots of us with children or without. I was thinking about my own situation. Also PP asked about those living with children.

It does feel like it's a real possibility though so it's definitely something I want to keep an eye on. I'm hoping more places like it develop though. If anyone has any links to other UK based housing schemes?

OP posts:
ssd · 27/06/2021 09:40

Round here the only retirement places are for well off older folk. The sort that doesn't want riff raff and drive mercs. And have cleaners. And maybe golf.

Is that what you mean op?

MotherOfCrocodiles · 27/06/2021 09:41

I used to live in a house share (all women) and we joked that we should move back in together when old. I would as well!

Sensateria · 27/06/2021 09:44

There are a couple of places exactly as you describe being set up in the UK for the LGB rest of the alphabet community, so I’d imagine it’s only a matter of time before someone runs with the idea and sets one up just for women.

I’d definitely be interested in the future.

Tlollj · 27/06/2021 09:48

My mum lives somewhere like this already. She has her own one bed apartment with wet room and a lovely big kitchen. On site there is dining room if you want to socialise, hairdresser, library etc.
They play bingo too although my mum doesn’t go ‘because it’s full of old fogies’ she’s 92.
Mixed sex but the women far outnumber the men.

Original poster
womaninatightspot · 27/06/2021 09:51

@purpledagger

I think it's a great idea, but everyone has to be on the same page for it to work.

A relative of mine lives in a retirement village and I thought it was great, when I visited - they have their own small apartment, but lots of communal areas and council arrange weekly transport to thr supermarket/town etc. I said it felt a bit like living in Halls at Uni.

I quite liked halls. I think what I was hoping for was a pre retirement version of this where people live communally but still work. I'd agree everyone needs to be on the same page; it only really works if everyone is in agreement on acceptable noise/ pets/ time/ effort and money put into the community.

I'd assume that those that would choose to live communally would be fairly self selective and not include arseholes would be awful living in such close quarters otherwise.

OP posts:
MayIDestroyYou · 27/06/2021 10:00

The thing is, every example I've read about (and there are plenty of multi-generational communal living schemes in the U.K.) requires a huge financial investment that pretty much excludes anyone who hasn't been able to build up considerable wealth through property / salary / inheritance. So they're unlikely to be diverse communities. Which is a shame.

Marchitectmummy · 27/06/2021 10:04

Have you seen the completed Owch scheme in Barnet?

I've read a fair amount about it as its been in our press a lot, I personally dislike a lot of the design but you are probably the right age to get involved with trying to fund raise / get housing associations on board.

These things don't just happen, you need to be very active. The ladies who were involved with this were incredibly active in bringing on board people to purchase the land and thrn thru codesigned the whole thing. If you are genuinely interested then now is the time to research ans build a group of equally interested people in your area. These ladies are amazing and driven. This took the ladies years on end to get to the built project, I seem to remember 20 years or something like that. I've seen quite a few presentations and articles over the years. Sadly I do remember some of the founders died prior to the projects completion.

www.owch.org.uk/architecture

Marchitectmummy · 27/06/2021 10:05

@MayIDestroyYou

The thing is, every example I've read about (and there are plenty of multi-generational communal living schemes in the U.K.) requires a huge financial investment that pretty much excludes anyone who hasn't been able to build up considerable wealth through property / salary / inheritance. So they're unlikely to be diverse communities. Which is a shame.
Owch absolutely is diverse, thsts where bringing on a housing association to partner comes in. Not all the ladies own their properties some rent from the association.