As someone who used to live in East Malaysia, moving to the ‘Big City’ aka KL was a huge step for me. Luckily, I had my extended family living here, so I didn’t exactly feel alone.
But, not everyone has that privilege. Recent research has shown that millennials are twice as likely to experience depression or anxiety due to loneliness, and living alone could worsen these symptoms.
One of the ways to tackle loneliness is through coliving, which is a housing solution where people who have a similar mindset live together.
The coliving concept isn’t exactly new in Malaysia. But, one of the firsts to the scene, Co-Living @ Damai Residence has been operating for more than a year now.
We last spoke to the team about a year ago and this time, we caught up with them to learn what improvements they’ve made to their coliving model. We also got some first-hand testimonials from a few of their tenants.
Getting More Than You Paid For
Rental at Co-Living @ Damai Residence starts from RM1,000. In what they call the one-bill-pays-all concept, utility bills such as Wi-Fi, water and electricity are included in the rent.
This means you don’t have to worry about missing a payment on bills and having your electricity cut in the middle of cooking dinner.
But that’s not all. Here, you also get additional benefits such as a coworking space and endless opportunities to join their community activities.
Of course, this place is open not just to millennials, but for everyone who wants to find a flexible place to stay or to make new friends who share a similar mindset.
So, what’s flexible about Co-Living @ Damai Residence?
They have flexible rental contracts that start from 3 months and above, and this means you don’t have to be tied down to year-long contracts anymore.
Take it from one of the tenants they have, Ya’Tze, who’s been living there for 6+ months:
Flexibility in terms of the contract was a major plus point for me, plus the all-inclusive bills meant that I didn’t have to worry about missing on payments.
– Ya’Tze
Besides the aforementioned working space, on the 19th floor (the Co-Coon Hub), you can find a huge communal lounge with a TV and a pool table, along with an entertainment zone fitted with a gaming console and a big-screen projector. Sometimes, the tenants even catch a movie together.
But, that’s not all.
On the rooftop, they have other amenities such as a wooden deck for a relaxing yoga session and BBQ equipment for some easy and cosy parties, against the stunning view of KLCC.
The coliving space recently also added a gym area and decked it out with new workout machines.
Overcoming Social Issues
Apart from being an affordable housing option, Co-Living @ Damai Residence could act as a platform to make socialising easy among residents of different backgrounds and nationalities.
Because let’s face it, making friends with people of different nationalities is quite difficult if you’re not actively seeking them out.
Over here, all you have to do is go to the Co-Coon Hub, and you’ll find other tenants just chilling around, chit-chatting or playing a competitive game of pool.
Julien, one of the tenants we interviewed, said they have a group chat to organise their own get-together activities like badminton or swimming.
Such is the advantage of living in a coliving space, as a normal apartment usually won’t give you the chance to be as sociable, unless you invite your friends over.
Most of the tenants we talked to emphasised on the sociable culture ingrained in this coliving space.
As an introvert, I believe having a circle of sociable building-mates will allow me to get to know them better and in turn, be a more sociable person.
The Story So Far… One Year Later
The team shared that the tenancy rate has exceeded their original expectations, but assured that there is still work to be done to further increase the visibility of the coliving concept.
But, they’re not the only ones in the scene as competitors are starting to pop up.
By offering something different from the rest, the team was able to stay ahead of the curve.
Co-Living @ Damai Residence hopes to stand out by providing an on-site management team who lives in the building.
This means that you don’t have to fuss around with calling a repairman whenever something goes wrong, by just raising the issue with the team.
Aside from fixing problems, they plan and organise monthly activities with events such as yoga classes, hiking and even Christmas or New Years’ celebrations for the tenants.
To provide for the tenants and to make their stay here a memorable one, the team said they have to constantly improve by learning about different nationalities and cultures around the world.
Looking forward, the team hopes to strengthen the brand name worldwide while looking for potential expansion in key urban areas.
In my opinion, their rental is quite affordable, considering you are renting a room in the heart of KL with easy access to public transport and malls.
Plus, you might even make lifelong friends, like some of the tenants here have.
“Living in a coliving space is different compared to renting an apartment. Coliving is not just a living space, it is also a networking platform of like-minded individuals fostering a healthy community.”
Co-Living @ Damai Residence Team
- Find out more about Co-Living @ Damai Residence here.
- Read our previous article on Co-Living @ Damai Residence here.
- You can also contact Co-Living @ Damai Residence at +6012 253 6322.
Featured Image: The Co-Living @ Damai Residence Management Team
