Van House runs furnished private rooms in shared apartments in Downtown Vancouver. Most of our residents work full time, and a good number of them work and study at the same time. Everything below is what people actually ask us before they move in.
What is coliving?
Coliving is a furnished private room in a shared apartment where each resident signs their own contract for their own room, rather than everyone signing one lease together. Furniture, Wi-Fi, kitchen equipment and cleaning of the shared areas are included. It is different from a shared lease, where all the tenants are jointly responsible for the whole apartment — and for each other’s rent.
How much does a coliving room cost in Downtown Vancouver?
At Van House, furnished private rooms in Downtown Vancouver start at $1,200 per month. The price depends on the building, the size of the room, and whether the bathroom is private or shared. A room with a private ensuite bathroom sits at the top of the range; a room sharing a bathroom with two housemates sits at the bottom.
What is included?
A furnished room — bed, desk, chair, and a closet or wardrobe — plus Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen with pots, pans, plates and cutlery, use of the shared living areas, and professional cleaning of the shared areas. Building amenities such as pool, sauna, hot tub and gym are included where the building has them. Whether hydro is included or split between housemates depends on the building.
Who lives at Van House?
Working adults. Most residents have full-time jobs, and several work and study at the same time. Rooms are single occupancy, and households are mixed gender. It is a quiet, adult home — not a student residence and not a party house.
What is the minimum stay?
Six months. Some Vancouver buildings have strata bylaws that require a six-month minimum tenancy, and in practice coliving works better when the people around you are not changing every few weeks.
Do I need to bring furniture?
No. Every room is fully furnished and the kitchen is fully equipped. You arrive with your suitcase. If you would rather use your own desk or dresser, you can bring it — ours gets taken apart, stored in the room, and put back when you leave.
Can two people share a room?
No. Every Van House room is single occupancy. We do not rent a room to a couple.
Are pets allowed?
No — not living in the apartment and not visiting.
Which neighbourhoods are the rooms in?
All in Downtown Vancouver: Yaletown, Coal Harbour, the West End and Beach District, and Crosstown near Keefer Place. Every building is walking distance to a SkyTrain station, groceries, and the Seawall.
How does the contract work?
You sign your own tenancy agreement for your own room, under British Columbia’s Residential Tenancy Act. Rent is due on the 1st of the month. The agreement runs for a fixed term of at least six months.
How do I view a room?
Message us and tell us a bit about yourself — where you are from, how long you have been in Vancouver, when you would like to move in, and whether six months works for you. We send photos and a video of the actual room, and arrange a viewing with the housemate who lives there.
What is currently available?
Rooms are listed on our rooms page with their availability date. Turnover is usually on the 1st of the month, so the room you are looking at for next month is often already listed.
