SINGAPORE — It is a living concept reminiscent of hostel life, but with upgrades and a new spin.

Co-living – where predominantly young adults share an apartment with common areas and can get activities organised and chores done at a fee – is catching on in Singapore.

While the line between hostel and co-living might seem blurred, the latter provides a community experience for its members. It not only curates the mix of members who live together, but provides plenty of common areas – living rooms, shared kitchens and even lounges – to facilitate interaction.

Community managers organise regular events that range from the social to the work-related. Even finding jobs for their members is not beyond them, said Hmlet co-founder Yoan Kamalski, 28.

Hmlet, which entered the Singapore market in 2016, handles 50 apartments and three buildings in locations such as Joo Chiat and Shenton Way. By the end of next month, it plans to add a second building, a 30,000 square-foot condominium, solely dedicated to co-living in Newton called Hmlet@Sarkies.

Its first, Hmlet@Joo Chiat, is a five-storey building that is home to about 26 members. Rental contracts for Hmlet’s members start from three months.

Mr Kamalski said the company provides convenience to its members – no one is called a tenant – by taking care of chores such as cleaning and ironing so that they can “plug and play” and focus on “the things that matter”.

Earlier this month, Chinese company Mamahome made a quiet entrance by launching its first co-living space, a 926-square-foot apartment at Alex Residences in Redhill.

Country head Calvin Cai said Mamahome plans to expand by another five to 10 units at Alex Residences and have 300 bedrooms by the end of the year. The eventual goal is to get an entire development of its own.

The co-living players point to the feasibility of the concept, especially for millennials, in cities such as London and Paris in developed countries where owning property is expensive.

Started by communal living company Pure House in the United States around 2014, co-living has gained traction among those in their early 20s to mid-30s, particularly those in tech companies and start-ups.

Co-living has become an essential way for millennials to live in an affordable and conveniently located space, said Mr Kamalski, a former civil engineer.

“In 2030, a billion more people will be on the planet, with 70 per cent of these people going to the cities…and there will not be enough supply of one-bedroom apartments,” said the French-Spanish native of Bayonne, France.

To house the growing number of millennials entering the workforce, co-living would be the way to go, he said.

Established firms here seem to agree. Hmlet’s lead investor is Aurum Investments, a Singapore-based venture fund that is a subsidiary of construction and engineering firm Woh Hup Holdings. Mamahome is backed by property giant City Developments.

Last year, Singapore Management University partnered with The Ascott Limited to co-manage lyf@SMU, a co-living space for the university’s students at the former MPH building, at the junction of Armenian Street and Stamford Road.

While co-living may not be for everyone, property analysts said it meets the need for affordable housing among individuals in search of experiences and who want to meet new people.

While the concept is “sustainable”, co-living appeals to a minority as there are privacy needs, said Mr Colin Tan, director of research and consultancy at Suntec Real Estate Consultants. “When land and space is less scarce, such schemes will not be popular,” he said.

At around S$1,000 per month for the cheapest room – with no attached toilets – at both Hmlet@Joo Chiat and Mamahome’s Alex Residences apartment, prices lean towards the high side, said ZACD Group executive director Nicholas Mak.

At roughly 54 square feet – about the size of a small hotel room – Mr Mak said co-living companies would have to provide a lot of value-added services to “justify the costs” of staying there.

“If three people came together and paid S$1,000 each, they could rent out a three-bedroom condominium in the suburbs,” he said.

Can introverts fit in? Certainly, said Hmlet member Melissa Ng, founder of design studio Melewi.

While the 26-year-old, who has been staying at Hmlet for less than a month but had prior experience co-living in Switzerland, enjoys meeting new people, she finds parties to be too intimidating.

Co-living spaces, with their communal areas and smaller group sizes, are ideal. “In a hostel, it’s a random mix of young people but here… we’re working professionals at similar life points,” said Ms Ng. “If you’re open-minded and looking to connect with different kinds of people…it’s perfect.”