(2) Difference between share house and Social Apartment

Social apartments are rental apartments that include a lounge and other public spaces in addition to traditional rental housing. It is a new style of living where you can enjoy community with other residents while maintaining your privacy, expanding your world.
　
"What is the difference between a share house and a social apartment?"
This is the most common question we receive from people who are interested in social apartments and when we give tours of our properties. In this article, we will introduce the differences between a share house and a social apartment in three areas.

(1) Size: Share house in a detached house, social apartment in an apartment

The majority of share houses are detached, wooden structure types, with the majority of buildings being small in scale with less than 20 rooms. While costs can be kept down by sharing a house, there are some characteristics unique to detached houses, such as thin walls between units and living rooms on a traffic flow.

Social apartments, on the other hand, are characterized by their large scale, and are made of reinforced concrete or steel construction, renovated from newly built condominiums or corporate dormitories. Therefore, the traffic flow allows access to the private room without passing through the lounge space, etc., ensuring privacy similar to that of condominiums.

▲Left: Exterior of Social Apartment “World Neighbors Gokokuji” ▲Right: Image of a wooden house of a share house

(2) Share houses for group living, social apartments for private living

In addition to the building structure, there is also a big difference in the “way of living” inside.

■How to live in a share house

A share house is a way of living in which several people share a single house. The advantage is that the space is small but the rent is low, and it is a way of living born from the concept of saving money. Because of the shared space that results from the sharing of space, it has also gained attention as a way of living that allows people to interact with each other.
It is truly a “living together” type of residence. On the other hand, because of the limited space, the distance between residents is always close.

■ How to live in a Social Apartment

Social Apartment is a way of living in which you can interact with others on the premise of your private. The concept of private room + α, and the ability to choose between public and private living is a major difference from a share house.
Because the starting point of a share house is an apartment, it is a “traditional rental apartment” with a “lounge” that can be freely used by the residents. Therefore, there is a certain distance between residents and other tenants, and they can enjoy communication without interfering with each other.

▲Left, a private room at Neighbors Higashi-Nakano. When you want to be alone, you can relax in your own room, just like in an apartment. Right: Neighbors Higashinakano's workspace. Residents can enjoy conversation with other residents when they go out to the common area.

(3) Share houses with “shared - having together” areas, social apartments with “shared - for common use” areas

The last major difference is the style of shared areas. The “shared space” of a share house, such as the living room and bathroom, has a strong sense of "belonging to everyone", as evidenced by the fact that cleaning is done on a rotating basis and personal belongings can be freely placed.
On the other hand, the “common area” of a social apartment is a space managed by Global Agents, and does not belong to “everyone” who lives there. Although it may lack a homelike atmosphere, the management company takes care of all cleaning and management.
Many people who come to Social Apartment expecting a share house are surprised at the cleanliness of the common areas.
　

Share houses and social apartments may seem similar, but they are actually two very different ways of living. Each has its own merits and characteristics, and it is important to choose a residence that suits your lifestyle and values.
Once you have decided that you want to live in a social apartment, you must now decide which property you want to live in. Which property to choose from among the many social apartments... You may have a hard time. In the next article, we will show you how to find the right social apartment for you.

Next article: (3) How to find the right social apartment for you