Where to Learn About & Find Cohousing Communities Abroad
An International Directory of Cohousing Associations
-last updated Sept. 2026
Traditional cohousing has historically been community-led: future residents initiate and substantially shape the community, its values, governance, design, and shared life before moving in. Much of the research on cohousing therefore reflects this community-led model.
A 2020 Public Health Reviews scoping review of 25 studies covering 77 cohousing communities found a relatively consistent pattern of stronger social support, sense of community, security, and lower social isolation, although the authors caution that most of the evidence is observational rather than causal. More recent research comparing traditional resident-led and developer-driven cohousing identifies the absence of that pre-move resident formation process as a fundamental difference between the models.
A developer-built project with attractive common spaces may offer real benefits, but the positive findings from traditional cohousing research should not automatically be assumed to apply to a project that omits one of the model’s central mechanisms: residents creating the community together from the beginning.
Terminology also varies widely. “Cohousing” may refer to coliving, developer-led lifestyle developments, or other collaborative-housing models. As you search, ask: Who originated the community? When did residents gain meaningful decision-making power? What have they actually created together?
Then start with community websites, national cohousing networks, and community directories rather than conventional real-estate listings. The AI search prompt below and in the accompanying article can help uncover smaller forming groups that ordinary property searches miss.
EUROPE
Strongest Cohousing Ecosystems
Denmark — bofællesskab
The birthplace of modern cohousing and still one of the world’s deepest cohousing cultures. Denmark has hundreds of communities; the national Bofællesskab.dk directory currently lists roughly 575 communities and projects, with new groups continuing to form and homes available for both sale and rent.
Bofællesskab.dk — communities, forming groups & available homes
Belgium — samenhuizen / cohousing
A well-developed collaborative-housing ecosystem, particularly in Flanders and Brussels, with forming groups, established cohousing communities, homes and apartments, and projects seeking future residents. Samenhuizen also organizes community visits, workshops, and annual study trips to cohousing and collaborative-housing projects elsewhere in Europe.
The Netherlands — gemeenschappelijk wonen / Centraal Wonen
One of Europe’s longest-established collaborative-housing traditions, dating back to the 1970s. The national network tracks more than 1,000 communal-housing communities and projects, including Centraal Wonen/cohousing, multigenerational communities, senior communities, and ecological projects, with both rental and ownership opportunities and new groups still forming.
Vereniging Gemeenschappelijk Wonen — communities & resources
Germany — gemeinschaftliches Wohnen / Wohnprojekte
One of Europe’s largest community-led housing ecosystems, with more than 800 projects, including many with private homes. Wohnprojekte-Portal lets you filter for forming projects seeking members and current housing openings.
Wohnprojekte-Portal — groups & homes
Sweden — kollektivhus / bogemenskap
A long-established movement of private apartments organized around shared spaces and community life. Kollektivhus Nu provides guidance on finding apartments and following new groups and communities.
Kollektivhus Nu — communities & openings
United Kingdom — cohousing
A mature community-led movement with private homes, shared spaces, and both intergenerational and senior communities. The UK Cohousing Network separates forming, developing, and established communities and helps prospective residents find current opportunities.
UK Cohousing Network — groups & homes
France — habitat participatif
A large resident-led housing movement where future residents often form groups and develop their communities together. Habitat Participatif France lists forming projects, groups seeking future neighbors, individuals seeking groups, and current housing opportunities.
Habitat Participatif France — groups & opportunities
Europe: Popular Relocation Countries
Without Established National Cohousing Networks
These southern European countries have no umbrella association with comprehensive directories and classifieds, nor do they yet have a cohousing ecosystem; however, options do exist, and interest is growing.
Since many options under the term “cohousing” are not community-led and Some have one or a few resident-led communities or forming groups; others have cooperative, collaborative, or housing projects initiated by institutions such as municipalities, by developers, or by other professionals. The AI prompt is advised for these countries: The AI search prompt in the accompanying article can be particularly useful here for uncovering forming communities and projects that may not appear in conventional housing searches.
AI prompt: “Find resident-led cohousing communities, cohousing villages, and community-led collaborative or cooperative housing residential projects in [country or region]. Especially include all groups seeking new members, including established communities, projects under development, and forming groups. Prioritize communities with private homes, substantial shared spaces, a Common House, resident governance, and active commitment to community life. Search local-language terms as well as ‘cohousing,’ and identify how prospective residents can contact, visit, or join each community.”
Greece — cohousing / ecohousing - Συμβιωτική Κοινότητα
Greece has no established national cohousing network or directory. Greek Village Cohousing is a “is a community-led cohousing and ecohousing organization developing several projects in Greece, including a 36-home new-build cohousing village with a substantial Common House, as well as an a regenerative/adaptive-reuse project centered on existing buildings and properties.
Future residents become involved before move-in, building relationships, establishing shared governance and community priorities, participating in shaping the projects, and sharing practical support around the transition to life in Greece.
Portugal — cohousing / habitação colaborativa
Portugal has no national cohousing umbrella organization or comprehensive directory, and traditional resident-led cohousing remains rare. Arroteia Cohousing is a forming intergenerational community with plans for 26 private homes centered on a Common House, and it originated with the property owners rather than with a resident group. A Casa is a resident-led, nonprofit cooperative whose members are collectively shaping a new community.
Italy — cohousing / abitare collaborativo
Italy has a growing but fragmented cohousing movement, including both resident-led and professionally initiated projects. Rete Italiana Cohousing — projects & map connects cohousing initiatives around the country and can help readers distinguish different models and stages of development.
Spain — cohousing / vivienda colaborativa
Spain has a growing number of cohousing and cooperative-housing projects, including strong resident-led cooperative models as well as developer- and professionally initiated developments. Cohousing Iberia — projects & maps tracks projects by stage, type, cost, expected occupancy, and other criteria.
Ireland — cohousing / community-led housing
Ireland’s traditional cohousing sector is still small but developing, with several genuinely community-led groups. SOA — developing cohousing groups lists groups currently creating communities around Ireland and identifies which are seeking new members.
Australasia
Australia
Australia has a growing resident-led cohousing movement, with about 28 completed developments and more groups actively forming. CoHousing Australia supports housing developed and governed through community-led, participatory processes, while its Cohousing Connector helps people find existing groups, potential future residents, and professionals.
New Zealand
New Zealand has a small but established resident-led cohousing movement, including completed communities and groups still forming. Cohousing NZ provides a national directory and emphasizes resident co-development, co-design, self-management, private homes, and substantial shared facilities. Some listings are older, so confirm current opportunities directly with individual communities.
Other Global Regions (Central/South America, Asia & Africa)
Traditional resident-led cohousing networks remain limited in these regions. Searches often surface ecovillages, intentional communities, or co-living projects. Use the AI search prompt to uncover smaller forming groups, or consult the Foundation for Intentional Community directory (ic.org).
Learn Before You Move: North American Cohousing Associations
You don’t have to choose a country before you start learning about cohousing. Several English-speaking national organizations offer excellent ways to understand the model before exploring communities abroad, including courses, webinars, information sessions, community visits, practical guides, and opportunities to connect with people already forming or living in cohousing.
United States
National Cohousing Alliance (formerly the Cohousing Association of the United States / CohoUS)
One of the world’s deepest collections of cohousing education, events, recorded discussions, professional resources, practical guidance, and a large community directory. The U.S. has over 200 established communities and a strong ecosystem of cohousing organizers and professionals.
Canada
One of the most useful places to see the cohousing process in action. Its community directory identifies communities as forming, in development, under construction, or completed, and the network offers events, practical guidance, and inexpensive individual membership. Canada has a rich ecosystem of cohousing organizers and professionals.
Search Tip
Once you find a promising community, leave the directory behind. Join its mailing list, attend an information session or open house, and visit if possible. Forming groups may have no homes to advertise yet, so ordinary real-estate searches can miss them entirely.
© 2026 Greek Village Cohousing. Compiled and maintained by Evi Gerou.