Co-housing is a widespread practice abroad, especially for students, but also for workers from other countries who cannot afford the big cost of a rent.

In the past, cohabitation in the big cities of Greece between people who were not relatives or partners was a reality that mainly concerned students from the countryside, although even so, it was not particularly widespread as in the rest of Europe. Nowadays, sky-high rent prices combined with the general accuracy and unbearable cost of living and of course the huge problem of finding accommodation and shortage, makes renting accommodation impossible for many citizens, whether or not they belong to the student community. It must be said that with regard to the lack of available properties, however, the significant shortage of houses in central areas due to Airbnb and Golden Visa and the number of foreclosed properties, which currently exceeds 900,000, also plays a decisive role.

It is a fact that in the last two years the rise in cohabitation in Greece has reached 25%. However, our country is still lagging behind in this area, as in the rest of Europe it is an extremely common phenomenon. However, we cannot overlook the new trend that is emerging and as it seems, has a future.

Cohabitation in Greece and why people choose it

In Europe, the leading position in cohabitation is held by England, followed by Spain and France. Then Central European countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and even Romania have high rates.

In Athens, in neighbourhoods such as Exarchia where available properties are limited, many people are choosing to live together in order to stay in the area. High rates of cohabitation are also recorded in the Western Suburbs and Piraeus, while this trend is less pronounced in the Northern Suburbs and almost non-existent in the South.

Interestingly, however, the findings of Myroomie app’s survey on the motivations that lead to the choice of cohabitation are also interesting. The primary reason leading to this decision is of course obvious. 70% of those interested in cohabitation cite reducing the cost of living as their primary motivation. The social factor is not insignificant however, with a remarkable 22% of potential flatmates attracted by the opportunity to socialise and meet new people, while 85% of tenants and 80% indicated a willingness to pay for services that would facilitate finding flatmates or shared accommodation.

In a sample of more than 1,000 respondents, 45% of respondents had previously cohabited, with a further 40% considering it a viable living option.

Real estate prices becoming a 'headache' for students

Meanwhile, it is worth noting at this point that according to a report by the National Authority for Higher Education for the year 2022, the student population in Greece in 2021 amounted to 843,832 people (undergraduate students, postgraduate students and doctoral candidates) from 802,365 in 2020, while the cumulative increase in rents for student housing in the period 2018-2023 reaches even 90% in Athens.

Therefore, in the turmoil and the difficult puzzle that is now finding housing, for some students, co-housing is now a one-way street. At a time when availability is already very limited, prices for student housing have gone through the roof, a phenomenon that has long been the case for all property across the country, especially in the capital, which receives a large number of students from the provinces every year.

Indicatively, the average rental price for apartments in the greater Athens area of up to 60 sq. m start from 8.28 euros per square meter in more economical areas, such as Acharnes (which means for example that for a studio of 30 sqm the rent is 248 euros) and reaches up to 16.56 euros per square meter in Voula (which means that for a studio of 30 sqm the rent is 496 euros).

In the ‘student hotspots’ of Athens, prices are as follows: in Kallithea 10.81 euros per sqm, in the Central Sector of Athens 10.88 euros per sqm (an increase of 9.1%), in Zografou 10.96 euros per sqm, in Egaleo 10.11 euros per sqm and in Piraeus 10.44 euros per sqm.

As for the other predominantly student cities, in Thessaloniki the average rental price for apartments up to 60 sqm is 9.46 euros per sqm in the first half of 2024, an increase of 6.7% compared to the same period last year. In Patras, the average rental price is 9.14 euros per sq.m., an increase of 13.1% and in Heraklion Crete 9.85 euros per sq.m., an increase of 10.5%.