A new way of living for people 50+
Vibrant, self-managing communities designed to maximise independence, social connection and ageing well.
Cohousing combines private, future-proofed, affordable homes with the benefits of shared spaces and amenities.
Cohousing Communities
What are Cohousing Communities?
Cohousing communities are self-managing groups that combine the independence of attractive, self-contained, private homes with all the benefits of shared amenities. Each well designed, A-rated modern home has its own hall door, living room, dining area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom/s. Each community decides on the shared amenities which include communal cooking/dining and lounge areas and ideally guest rooms, repair workshops, gardens and outdoor gathering spaces.
And neighbours who genuinely look out for one another.
Cohousing communities are often described as intentional neighbourhoods because residents design and manage their community together.
First pioneered in Denmark in the 1960s, cohousing is now thriving in the USA, UK, Netherlands, and Canada. There are no such communities here in Ireland, despite growing interest and demand.
Now is the time to change that!
Why 50+?
Every year, 70,000 of us in Ireland turn 50, joining the 1.76 million others already over that age. Many of us live in homes that are too large, too costly to run, difficult to manage and often in the wrong location. We want to plan ahead for our future housing needs, often too aware of the avoidable crises our own parents went through.
Standard apartments, poorly located retirement villages or supported housing don’t meet our needs – as we are typically active, healthy 50+ people, often still working. We are looking for easy to run homes in vibrant communities AND for many, to create a financial cushion for our later years. Cohousing communities fill this gap and often release badly needed larger homes into the market.
Our aim is to create exciting new homes and communities for people over 50 across Ireland. But we can only do it with in collaboration with government, local authorities, developers, housing bodies and other players in the housing market.
We need sites, our members need bridging finance, and we need policies to adapt. Read our policy asks and briefing papers.
Join the movement
Government – we need Government to establish a Self-Financing Revolving Fund to enable rightsizers to manage the sell-buy cycle. And we want increase affordability by extending the Starter Home Purchase Scheme to rightsizers.
Local Authority – we welcome partnerships that could revitalise urban centers and local economies, enhance existing communities and release family homes to the market
Landowners and Developers - if you have a site or a property that you think might be suitable for this innovative approach, please get in touch. We may have a potential community ready to go in your area. We can sign contracts for purchase with you at an early stage in the development.
Estate agents - we value your market experience and insights into the local property market and potential investment opportunities. Please contact us if you are aware of a suitable site.
Financial institutions - We want to forge partnerships with financial institutions to make the transition from current home to cohousing as seamless as possible. Current CBI loan to income ratios have meant that there have been constraints on the 2-4 year bridging finance our members need.
Is this for me?
Cohousing has proven benefits for people aged 50+.
Are you an individual or couple and making conscious decisions about where and how you want to live for the next decades? Cohousing may be the right choice for you.