Some homeowners rent out their office space to multiple people at the same time. Geber86/Getty Images
The sharing economy is here to stay. We currently live in a world where Airbnb hosts more rooms in more destinations around the world than any major hotel chain, and Uber is competing with Google to develop the first self-driving taxis. But in the midst of our collaborative consumption craze, when does “smart” sharing cross the line into “oversharing”?
Meet Vrumi. Launched in London in 2014, Vrumi is an Airbnb-style website where you can book desk space in a stranger's apartment or home. Unlike other coworking and office rental services that offer workspace in vacant conference rooms or cafes, Vrumi specializes in properties where people actually live. As homeowners go off to work, freelance web developers, writers, yoga instructors, therapists, and other nomadic members of the “gig economy” arrive. Rental rates range from £20 to £300 (or $24 to $366) a day, with some costing more than £600. These guests don't stay overnight.
The idea makes some sense: utilising (and monetising) space that sits empty during the day, and giving employees a much more comfortable place to work than they might have at home. But renting out workspace in your own apartment takes the sharing economy ethos a step too far. After a long day at the office, do you really want to come home to an apartment full of earphone-wearing programmers who've left empty takeout containers on the dining table?
“Most great ideas sound ridiculous at first,” says Alex Stefani, a London-based sharing economy expert and author of The Business of Sharing. “Many of the venture capitalists that Airbnb pitched to thought it was a completely outlandish idea – that no one would want a stranger coming into their home and sleeping in their bed. I think those investors are now regretting that decision.”
There's no question that the sharing economy has captured the hearts and minds (and wallets) of Americans. More specifically, young, wealthy, college-educated Americans living in cities. According to his 2016 report for the Pew Research Center, 72% of American adults have used some kind of online sharing service, whether it's a ride-hailing app like Uber or an online marketplace like Craigslist. there is.
But there is a clear “sharing gap”: participation in the sharing economy is significantly higher among college-educated people under the age of 45 who live in urban areas. People with lower incomes and lower levels of education are much less likely to donate to a crowdfunding campaign or sign up for online grocery delivery.
Still, for certain demographics, apartment/office-sharing services like Vrumi and its rival Spacehop can be very appealing. Say you're a Spanish teacher in your 30s with a lot of corporate clients in the San Francisco Bay Area. Instead of meeting at a noisy Starbucks or traveling to each of your clients' offices, you can book a quiet, stylish loft in the Mission District for a few hours. It looks more professional, and there's a tasty burrito place just around the corner.
Nick Martland, 24, runs an entertainment company in London and is a regular SpaceHop user. “I often reserve a day in the middle of the week to deal with work calls and emails,” he told London's Daily Telegraph. “The advantage is that there may be other hoppers there (in the same house), so during your break you can meet new people who may be able to help you in the future. It's also a good way to do it.” ”
This video explains Spacehop's MO
Of course, there are logical and practical considerations. Similar to Airbnb, hosts must specify when their apartment can be used as office space and establish a system for handing over keys. Vrumi recommends a lockbox with an access code that can be changed frequently for added security. When it comes to security, Vrumi uses her ID verification software to ensure that renters are who they say they are. Hosts can also purchase optional insurance against potential damage or theft for £2 ($2.45) per day.
At this time, there are no similar services in the United States that turn your home or apartment into a workspace. You can search for available meeting rooms and workspaces in your city on websites like Breather and Sharedesk, but chances are you won't find someone's wart medicine in the bathroom.