It's a small residential area like hundreds of others. Located a few meters from the University of Saint-Denis, it brings together several dozen houses dating, for the most part, from the 1970s. The latter often house families, who come there to escape the tumult of the city center. However, the area was taken over several years ago by a wave of shared accommodation. With its six bedrooms, two basements and bathrooms, the house where Oriana lives appears, at first glance, to be intended for a large family. “It’s quite a nice place,” says the young girl with a laugh.
After a first experience of sharing accommodation with friends, this 28-year-old children's entertainer opted for sharing accommodation with strangers. “At first, I didn’t think I would live with five other people. But I was raised in a house where there were people passing through all the time, so I'm not out of place there! I really like the mix between individual and collective. I share a lot of things with the roommates. However, we are not together all the time. Everyone has a life on the side and can isolate themselves whenever they want. »
However, Oriana does not neglect the financial aspect. “It is obvious that with my salary, below the minimum wage, I would not have been able to find accommodation in the Paris region without sharing accommodation. There, for 490 euros including charges, I have a living space of 160 square meters! » Like Oriana, many young professionals today opt for shared accommodation. Contrary to popular belief, the latter is far from being an exclusively student way of life. According to the latest figures from the Colocation Observatory, published by LocService, in 2024, 41% of candidates were on permanent contracts and aged on average 28 years.
