Residents choose co-living for community, convenience and flexibility. The viewing is where they decide whether a scheme can deliver that.

This is hereSAY's first dedicated co-living report. Our mystery shoppers, all within each scheme's target market and able to afford to live there, viewed nine co-living schemes at least three times each. After every visit, they answered more than 80 questions covering the full lead-to-lease journey, from the first enquiry to the follow-up.

We then benchmarked the results against hereSAY's BTR data: 1,902 viewings across 124 schemes.

The report in numbers

Download the report here:

9 co-living schemes mystery shopped
3+ viewings at every scheme
80+ questions answered after each visit
1,902 BTR viewings used as the benchmark

One finding worth knowing now

Co-living performs strongly on community and amenities. The basics are less consistent.

Only 53% of shoppers received a response to their enquiry within 24 hours, compared with 73% in Build to Rent.

The report shows where else the journey falls short and what operators can do about it, much of it through small changes that are quick to put in place.

What's inside the report

The top three co-living schemes in the benchmark
How co-living compares with BTR at every stage of the leasing journey
Where co-living outperforms BTR, including community and value for money
How operational structure affects service quality
What prospective residents say about their viewings, in their own words
Practical actions on enquiry handling, value perception and follow-up

Who the report is for

Co-living operators who want to see how their teams compare with the sector
Investors and developers assessing the operational strength of co-living schemes
Asset managers looking for evidence of how the leasing experience affects occupancy
On-site and leasing teams looking for practical ways to bring the co-living lifestyle to life on every viewing

Frequently asked questions

What is the hereSAY Co-Living Benchmark?
It is hereSAY's first dedicated co-living report. It measures the lead-to-lease experience at nine UK co-living schemes, each mystery shopped at least three times.

Who carried out the viewings?
Independent mystery shoppers within each scheme's target market, who could afford to live there.

Does the report compare co-living with Build to Rent?
Yes. Results are benchmarked against hereSAY's BTR data from May 2024 to April 2025, covering 1,902 viewings across 124 schemes.

Does the report name the top performing schemes?
Yes. The report recognises the top three co-living schemes in the benchmark.