Wendy Hilliard spent years barely speaking to her neighbours, an experience she describes as “typically British.” After a relationship ended and she began looking for somewhere new, she decided she wanted to be more connected to the people around her. Now she lives in a co-living building in Canary Wharf, where some of her best friends are 20 years younger.
The senior partnerships manager for a medical and security company moved into the ARK co-living building after a relationship breakup. She has been there for nearly two years and has just signed her contract to renew for a third year. “It’s not renting; it’s basically a membership agreement that you sign up for,” she says. Guests can stay for just a day, while long stays are typically three months or more. Wendy does a 12-month stay each time, the maximum.
Why co-living over a traditional rental?
Wendy was coming out of a 15-year relationship when she started looking for a new place. At the time she had a cat, so she needed somewhere animal-friendly, and her finances were not in a very good place, so she was budget-conscious. One-beds and studios were “really expensive,” and people were bidding over the asking price. After her cat died a couple of months later, she could consider high-rise buildings. She did not want a house share, and she wanted her own space with all bills included.
She pays £1,800 per month including all bills for her classic studio, which measures six square metres. “It’s six square metres, so it’s compact,” she says. The flat has a kitchen with an oven and cabinet space, and an ensuite bathroom and shower. But there are many shared facilities on site: a dining room, gym, games room and co-working space. The highlight, she says, is the 20th floor, with a swimming pool with a view of Canary Wharf, plus a sauna with a steam room and a jacuzzi. When she first moved in, she went there every day for two or three months.
Life in Canary Wharf
Wendy says she loves the area and feels as safe as she can be walking around at night, partly because the financial district has 24/7 security. “Walking around at night, I do feel as safe as I can be,” she explains. She acknowledges some people might think it is sterile with shiny skyscrapers, but she points to the river, green spaces and the “absolutely excellent” Jubilee Line.
Intergenerational friendships
The intergenerational side of the building was something Wendy asked about before she viewed it. There are residents in their late 30s, 40s and 50s, and she knows one person in their 60s. Some of her best friends in the building are in their early 30s. One close friend recently moved to Miami for work, and she went to visit him last month; “He’s 20 years younger than me.”
Living alone has taught her about herself. She notes that people in her age group tend to be married with kids, so seeing them is less spontaneous. “It’s quite typically British that people don’t talk to their own neighbours, and loneliness is a real issue, not just with the older generation,” she says. She adds that downsizing was therapeutic and that she now has just what she actually needs.
Making a compact space her own
In her studio, Wendy has hung paintings on the wall, added a disco ball, stacked mugs and used shelf dividers to maximise the space. Painting and wallpapering are not allowed, so she uses Command Strips for artwork. She also makes use of the communal lounge and workspaces, where residents have a WhatsApp group for those who like to work together.
If she could change one thing, she would add a retractable roof and an outdoor pool in the summer; joking aside, she says a balcony would be nice. Occasionally the water goes off, but there is on-site maintenance and she can log a ticket via an app.
Staying put
Wendy plans to stay until at least October 2027. She points out that many residents have been in the building for multiple years, some since it first opened in 2019.
