
A £1,200-a-month luxury London commune with a burgeoning reputation as Britain's most glamorous halls of residence for young professionals is full after seven months and its oldest resident appears to be just 44.

Residents in the 550-room 11-storey tower in Willesden, share a 'twodio' - a 100sq ft private room and bathroom with a kitchen split between two people.

In return they get no bills, a cleaner, linen changes, and access to a roof-top terrace, library, games room, spa, sauna, cinema and a weekly drinks party in its bar.

Staff are summoned to do jobs like changing lightbulbs by text with some residents admitting that all you need is 'toilet roll and some food', although you could also use one of its several fashionable restaurants to eat.

The scheme from the housing company, The Collective, is billed as 'the world's largest co-living scheme' and has seen professionals moving into rooms similar to university student halls.

But some of its older residents have admitted they worried they might not fit in because they are in their thirties. And with a large number of people from foreign countries living there, some fear Brexit could also shatter the multi-cultural community when EU freedom of movement ends.

Growing community: Melissa Panero, 21, in her bedroom at the Collective in London, which had just five residents in May but is now packed with 550 people

Contrast: Melissa Panero, 21, is one of the many students and young graduates living there - Erik Vonk, 44, was among the first people to move in last May and is believed to be its oldest resident

Cheers: Residents Nicholas Konstantinides, Allen Betsis, Declan Halton-Woodward and friends at the Christmas party in the common room at the Collective commune

Pledge: Management will even donate £50 towards parties in communal areas as long as everyone is invited and it benefits the community

Party: Ed Thomas, Head of Community, and Jon Taylor, Head of Technology, enjoy a beer or two with other residents

Having fun: Tenants can take their pick of yoga classes, cinema clubs, live music nights - and even a free bar on a Friday

Grand: The 550-bedroom, 11-storey tower (pictured) offers young people university halls-style living in London

Daily routine: The Collective runs community classes, film clubs and its popular 'Happy Friday' drinks event

Management will even donate £50 towards parties in communal areas as long as everyone is invited, so MailOnline visited its weekly Friday night drinks to find out how its residents are finding life.

Erik Vonk, 44, is believed to be the most senior resident and has been there since day one.

He said: 'I was one of the first ones to move in on May 1. There were ten of us then and now the building is full.

'I talk to so many people every day - even if it's just a nod in the elevator, I'm meeting new people all of the time.

'It was a bit of an experiment, but what attracted me was the modern building and the community.

'It's London so everybody has busy lives - so it doesn't feel like there's 550 people around. If I do not feel like talking to people I can go straight up to my room and watch Netflix.'

Erik enjoys the social events and professional networking opportunities he gets from sharing communal space with such a diverse group of tenants, but is worried that the UK leaving the EU could mean he cannot stay here forever.

The Netherlands and British Chamber of Commerce executive said: 'If Brexit happens badly I'm going to have to leave the UK so we will have to see - I may have to move back to Amsterdam or Berlin.

'I hope I can find another co-living space over there.'

Many say they have friends for life with the people they share with - but some admit they are worried it could struggle in the wake of Brexit.

The block, in Willesden, north west London, had 10 tenants in May, but now 550 residents have filled the 10-storey complex.

Rooms are rented for between £850 and £1,200 a month but with all bills, cleaners, and maintenance work included in the price, for some the set-up is perfect.

Many of the tenants enjoy the luxury of a gym, a restaurant, launderette and sauna all on site - but agree not everyone is cut out for the social living here.

Ruth Cooper-Dickson, 38, said in her 11 weeks here she has learnt to separate work life from home life.

She said: 'I wanted to work in my room but the management said no, that's not really the idea.

'I was not sure if moving here would work for me - especially being a bit older.'

The consultancy business owner added: 'Sharing a twodio with somebody that I have never met before was something that worried me.

'But my flatmate is great - and we've already decided we're going to sign a new contract here when it runs out in May.'

Elder statesmen: Erik Vonk, 44, left, is believed to be the most senior resident and has been there since day one. Ruth Cooper-Dickson, 38, right, admits she wasn't sure it would work for her because of her age

Cosy: Melissa Panero, 21, sits in her room at the Collective, which has filled up and is now looking to expand elsewhere

Ed Thomas, Head of Community at the Collective cracks open a drink at the Christmas party held in its common room

Eesidents Jamie Finn, Chloe Boulos, Richard Morrice, Lisa Henwood, Victoria Hardy, Richard Territt and Ed Thomas in the common room

Residents James Wilson, Kim Hawkins, Kimberly Shear and Matthew Sparks share a laugh over communal drinks

Room: Areas of the Collective are there to be used by all residents and their guests

Melissa Panero moved in at the beginning of October and is enjoying her stay so far, but admits some people are finding the set up lonely - despite the vast number of people sharing their space.

The business management student, from Italy, said: 'I could literally stay here all day because I have got everything.

'The fact that I'm also studying is good because I have to leave three days a week.

'There's some people who work from home and live here and they get a little bit lonely because they are here all day.'

The 21-year-old, who works as a life and business coach in her free time from studying, added: 'If I had to be here all day every day I would go crazy.

'But a friend of mine who works here most of the time is still happy - it doesn't get boring.'

Tenants can take their pick of yoga classes, cinema clubs, live music nights - and even a free bar on a Friday.

Melissa added: 'If I was here with my partner I would not want to be here - I would prefer to be in a proper home.'

When Melissa first met her Serbian flatmate two months ago she was 'worried' that she could not speak much English.

Melissa said: 'At the beginning she could hardly speak any English but now she's doing well.

'When she first got here I was a bit worried because her English was not very good so I'm happy that now she's so much better.'

It seems the residents here are all learning from each other - whether it's a new language or a new way of living.

Alternative: Residents, pictured in the restaurant, say they have moved in because they are sick of the typical grubby London house or flat share many endure

Erik Vonk speaks to a friend over a coffee in one of the Collective's numerous communal spaces

Roof garden: One of several outside domes which all residents have access to - which can be used for recreation time at day or night

Space: This area is in the library of the building, where people can read quietly in front of a fire, work or even draw or paint if they want to

Fashionable: The trendy interiors have attracted recent graduates and young professionals moving to London looking for a new way to live

Inspiration: This is the English gastro-pub themed communal area that are designed to be used whenever the residents want them

Trendy: This is a Chinese themed communal area that people can use to entertain friends in for dinner and drinks

Luxurious: The building has attractions like this small cinema where people can hold themed nights or to watch anything of their choice

The cinema equipment, music equipment and other expensive gear is there on trust - but if damaged or stolen it will not be replaced

Tv room: An area where all residents can come to watch the latest soap - or put on a dvd of their choice for all to enjoy

Pricey: The scheme is designed as an alternative to flat-sharing, which is all most young people can afford - but it will still set you back £1,200 a month

Plush: This is the entrance to the site's own gym, which has a plethora of state of the art exercise equipment

Flash: The Collective includes meeting spaces like this with modern boardroom style tables for the many young professionals living there to use

A picture of the games ares in the tower, which is being billed as 'the world's largest co-living scheme' or commune

Fun: People living in the tower block are encouraged to meet in the games room to play table tennis or table football with other residents

House work: This is one of the block's giant launderettes containing top of the range washing machines, which is included in the monthly rent

Chillaxing: This spa area has small beds for massages or a snooze or they could also lay down on large furry rugs and relax

Rest and relaxation: This is the communal sauna, where the young professionals can unwind after a busy day at work

Offers: Although the residents do have access to small or large communal kitchens there are wide range of places to eat including this outdoor pizza restaurant

Now that the rooms at The Collective in Willesden have filled up, the company is looking to expand.

Ed Thomas, who leads the Community Team looking out for residents at the complex, said: 'We're looking to expand in Stratford and Canary Wharf.

'We should be in the Stratford building by the end of 2018 and the Canary Wharf site by January 2019.'

Mr Thomas, 26, says if the business is to grow successfully it will look abroad rather than to other UK cities.

He said: 'One hundred per cent we can bring this outside of London. We are looking to go to the US. The US as with anything are ahead of us so co-living is already quite well known out there.

'There's a lack of housing stock and living choices are expensive, so that's why it works here and why it can work in a lot of places.'

The scheme, from housing company 'The Collective' is being billed as 'the world's largest co-living scheme' and resembles a luxurious university halls of residence.

Items like film projectors, music equipment and TVs in communal areas are there on trust - meaning that if they are stolen or broken they will not be replaced unless the culprit is caught and pays up.

Every floor has themed community kitchens decorated like restaurants - including a French bistro and an English gastro pub.

In fact, the whole building, which is targeted at people aged 21 to 35, resembles a cross between student halls and a luxury hotel.

Because the emphasis is on trust, anyone can come and go, use the kitchen utensils and cinema room, even the DJ decks.

For those who want to be sociable, the communal areas make a great space for a party - and the collective will even support this with £50, providing you can show them what the money will go towards.

Guests are also welcome, if you can squeeze them into your room, but they must sign in at the front desk.

If they stay more than two weeks though they'll be charged £30 a night and guest rooms for family and friends start at £30 a night with a shared bathroom.

Location: Many residents cycle to work in central London following the canal that runs alongside the tower block

Ethos: The project said its co-living project is designed to be the perfect platform for life in London, and could expand across the capital and abroad

Small package: The rooms themselves are really small and residents are encouraged to store items like their books in the communal library

Bijou: Residents get a small, 10 metres square room as well as access to a shared kitchen and a number of other communal facilities

Tight: The shared kitchens for two people are very small, with just a tiny hob, sink and combi-oven - three larger kitchens can be booked for entertaining

Relaxing: Many residents choose to work from home because of the range of facilities available to use there

Every floor has themed community kitchens decorated like restaurants - including a French bistro and an English gastro pub

Spirit: There are community events every night and residents are expected to actively contribute to improving life there

Welcome: The reception of the Collective building in Willesden, just a few miles from the centre of London