How do we create housing that works for the generation coming in?

Every month, students arrive to study. Young professionals move here for work. Digital nomads land with laptops. Key workers relocate to be closer to the opportunities a city like Melbourne offers.

The city and surrounding suburbs keep drawing people in.

And here’s the tension: the housing they need doesn’t look like the housing we’ve built for decades.

For years, Melbourne’s rental market was built on an older way of living. Long leases. Empty properties waiting for furniture. Upfront costs that made moving a financial headache before the first box was unpacked. It worked when people stayed put. When renting was just a stepping stone before buying a house.

But the new wave of renters is rewriting the rules.

They want homes that are ready from day one. Fully furnished. All-inclusive. Flexible enough for three months or three years. They want privacy when they need it and connection when they want it; spaces where they can meet people, share meals, swap ideas, and then close the door to rest and recharge.

Right now, Melbourne doesn’t have enough of this kind of housing.

At Livko, we see the gap growing faster than the market can respond. And we believe coliving offers part of the solution.

Because coliving isn’t about squeezing more people into smaller rooms. It’s about designing housing that reflects how people live now. Cities have changed. Careers have changed. Lifestyles have changed. Housing needs to catch up.

Coliving works because it recognises that the idea of “home” has shifted. For many, it’s less about permanence and more about possibility. Less about staying forever and more about living well while you’re here.

That’s why flexibility matters. It’s why ready-to-move-in homes matter. It’s why shared kitchens and living areas aren’t just cost-saving measures but places where friendships and networks form.

The demand is clear. We see it in students who need somewhere safe and social for the academic year. In professionals on six-month contracts. In people relocating from overseas who want to land softly in a new country without dealing with the usual chaos of finding furniture, utilities, and flatmates in week one.

And it’s not just about convenience. It’s about making city living accessible again. Rising rents and shrinking vacancy rates have made Melbourne one of the toughest rental markets in the country. By rethinking how we use space, coliving can open the door to more affordable options without sacrificing quality or experience.

For landlords and investors, this isn’t a niche trend. It’s a growing market segment that cities like Melbourne can’t afford to ignore. For policymakers, it’s a chance to support housing models that match the reality of modern urban life rather than clinging to outdated definitions of what renting should look like.

So the real question isn’t how do we get people to stay longer? It’s this: how do we create housing that works for the generation coming in?

Because they are the future of this city. And the city won’t wait.