Stakeholder participation and perceptions by urban practitioners is a study area that requires further research, particularly in socially innovative living concepts where quality of life and social sustainability are key considerations for end-user stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to contribute to knowledge of these innovations by focusing on urban practitioners’ perception of end-user participation in innovations of living such as co-housing, sharing communities and cooperatives that have been built recently responding to societal needs and growing concerns over social sustainability in urban areas. This study answers research questions of perception of urban practitioners towards the participation of end-user stakeholders, practitioners’ perception in its use of organisational learning, and their interpretation regarding the distribution of power between all stakeholders. Through the lens of a theoretical background based on stakeholder theory and shared value creation, power, empowerment and sharing of power, adaptive and resilient organisations concepts; and adaptive organisational learning processes. Semi-structured interviews with practitioners, employed in the cities of Malmö and Copenhagen, were conducted, transcribed and then interpreted by the authors through an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology that was used to interpret data. Findings suggest that most perceive a value in stakeholder participation and those practitioners exposed to end-user stakeholder participation have a higher comprehension of its potential value. Respondents agreed that the municipality remains a key stakeholder in the shaping process, even though this was not part of initial questioning. Finally, there is a notion of an interplay between power and financial resources that still controls the development process. The paper concludes while there is a perceived value of the processes and knowledge sharing on the process of end-user stakeholders not all perceive the benefits. The authors recommend further development in this area to increase comprehension, knowledge sharing of the possibilities and barriers to innovations of living.