The rooms are tiny, the rent is about £1,100 a month, tenants have to share kitchens – and the view is over one of London’s bleakest skylines. But the creators of what they claim is the world’s largest “co-living” scheme, opening next week, believe it is the 21st-century alternative to that traditional rite of passage for twentysomethings arriving in the capital – flatting.

The Collective, a new 550-bed tower in Old Oak billed as “a new way to live in London”, is the corporate answer to the dilemma facing new workers in the capital hunting for a flat and someone to share the costs. It claims to give tenants – the first move in on Monday – a hassle-free, collective life similar to a student hall of residence, but for people starting out on their career.

Its sleek modernity is a far cry from the Young Ones, but it’s also a long way from the New York shared living of Friends. The majority of rooms are just 10 sq metres and relatively expensive compared to the traditional flatshare in London’s inner suburbs.

Housesharers Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, and Christopher Ryan in the Young Ones Photograph: Photos 12/Alamy

Residents will typically pay £1,083 a month for what the Collective dubs a “Twodio”. For that they get a bed described as “double” – though a bit of a squash for two people – plus a private bathroom and access to a two-hob kitchen unit that is shared with one other tenant.

A two-hob kitchen is shared with one other tenant. Photograph: Amandine Alexandra/The Collective

On the plus side, the relatively high rent is all-inclusive. Linen and cleaning comes every two weeks, and there are no unexpected gas, Wi-Fi or community charge bills.

Residents also get access to communal spaces including larger kitchens, bookable dining rooms, a library, and a games room. There is also a roof terrace – albeit one that looks out over a west London vista of the Willesden Junction rail freight yard, several supply yards and a bus station. But it is well-placed for the arrival of Crossrail, with a local station opening in the next three years.

One of the communal libraries. Photograph: Amandine Alexandra/The Collective

Reza Merchant, a former London School of Economics graduate, and the Collective’s chief executive, said: “Our Old Oak development is offering Londoners a fresh and innovative way of living – it’s also a much needed option in the context of the capital’s housing crisis.



“We are changing the way people can choose to live. We’re offering a solution that will enable young working Londoners, who are the lifeblood of the UK economy, to live properly, enjoy themselves and meet like-minded people. Co-living creates a genuine sense of community alongside access to so many more amenities than you would get in a flatshare.”

He said the Old Oak development site was picked because of its relative affordability and its transport links. The development was privately funded by a rich Singaporean family. Merchant declined to say how much the investors had put up, but revealed the company is already working on a second site in Stratford, east London.

The Collective in Willesden, north-west London, world’s largest ‘co-living’ scheme, claim its creators. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

The 11-storey Old Oak development, which can be reached in 30 minutes by tube from Oxford Circus, will also house 400 entrepreneurs in a co-working space that will launch in September. Some are expected to live and work in the project during the week, and head out of town at the weekend. The site is so big that a mobile map has been developed to help guide residents.

An “affordable” in-house restaurant will open in the coming weeks, and over the summer people can try residency for a month before having to commit to nine- or 12-month contracts they will ultimately have to sign if they wish to stay.

Contemporary dancer Anso Kristiansen has already signed a 12-month contract. Photograph: Courtney Nelson

One woman who has not been put off by the size of the rooms is Anso Kristiansen. The 29-year-old contemporary dancer who has appeared at the Royal Opera House, has already signed up to stay for 12 months, and is excited to be moving in.

“I have lived in flatshares all over London and was really looking for something different,” she said.

The Dane, who has been living in London for five years, said she is looking forward to spending time with new people in the communal areas. “I like the fact that I’ll be able to go to my room if I need some personal space. In my current flat I have a bigger room but there is no living room so I’m stuck in there all the time,” she said.

An area of the development described as the secret garden. Photograph: Amandine Alexandra/The Collective

Ed Thomas, site manager and a veteran of communal living projects, said residents will have to become used to living communally – and be expected to clean up the kitchens after use. Ultimately, those who repeatedly fail to so could ejected, but only after every other avenue has been explored. The rooms have been well sound-proofed.

“We see people forging new friendships, cooking and eating together. It’s going to be an exciting place to be in,” he said.