Moving Into a Multigenerational Home – All You Need to Know

How families choose to live is changing, with multigenerational homes becoming more and more common.

With spiraling care home and healthcare costs, the uncertain economic times we live in, the realisation that family is so important, and with longer life expectancy, more and more people are choosing to have multiple generations living in one home.

We have previously written about how people are currently looking to move out of the city. And by moving out of the city to the suburbs and countryside, families are getting more living space for their money, so the opportunity for having elderly parents come live with them is a more viable prospect.

Equally, with spiraling living costs, more and more adults are moving back into their parents’ home.

In this week’s home moving blog we will look at living in a multigenerational home in more depth and you can expect to learn more about:

• What is a multigenerational home?
• What are the advantages of living in a multigenerational home?
• What are the disadvantages of living in a multigenerational home?
• Multigenerational living tips
• Can you live in a multigenerational flat?
• Practical tips for multigenerational homes
• Should I move in with my parents?
• Should your ageing parent move in with you?
• Useful contacts
• Tips for Moving Into a Multigenerational Home

What is Multigenerational Housing?

Multi-generational homes are where two or more generations live under one roof.

Historically, children have been encouraged to leave home, to buy a house, and become independent.

That trend appears to be changing. More and more families are appreciating the advantages of having their parents, their children’s grandparents, all living under one roof.

People who are moving to the countryside enjoy not only the health benefits, but that they are getting far more space for their money. This could be more bedrooms or more land, and it is the benefit of having extra land that is most appealing.

Often this means that existing homes can be extended out into the garden, giving their parents or elderly relatives a private annex, but with the benefit of having their children and grandchildren nearby.

Having an annex built is the perfect solution in many cases as both parties have a degree of privacy and independence, but also benefit from being close to each other.

It is also the case where many adult children are moving their family into their childhood home where the parents still live. These homes tend to be in the villages and towns where homes are larger and there is the option of all the family living together.

What Are The Advantages of Living in a Multi-Generational Home?

#1 – It Makes Financial Sense

By having a number of adults living in one property the financial burden is shared and the costs are often less than trying to finance two households.

Often the parents and children can sell two properties to purchase one large property, or can afford to rent out the city property for example and live in the parents’ home.

Whatever your current living costs, rent or mortgage payments, having two families live together should be more economical.

Then there is the cost saving of childcare when the grandparents are able to care for the children whilst their parents are out at work.

There is only one home to maintain rather than two, reducing wasted time and expense dealing with such things.

It may also be that the elderly relative or parent requires a degree of everyday living support which can be extremely expensive. It may be that having them live with you, you are able to provide that support, therefore redirecting those funds to the family budget.

It may be that your elderly parents or relatives live in an older home that requires repair. You might come to an arrangement where you pay for the repairs and maintenance of the home in exchange for accommodation.

Find what works best for both parties, but in most instances the financial benefit for all concerned can be quite an attractive deciding factor in creating a multigenerational home.

#2 – It Enriches Everybody’s Life

In many cases, people are realising that having their family live all together enriches everybody’s life.

 It is thought that having grandparents actively involved with children improves their behavior and is better for their emotional wellbeing. This can be especially true in one parent families.

You may like to read this study from Oxford University highlighting the vital role that grandparents have in a child’s wellbeing.

There is also the mental stimulation that children give to the grandparents, giving them a new lease of life, relieving loneliness and improving their physical and mental wellbeing.

You may like to read this study on the health benefits of being around grandchildren from Kings College London published by UK Research and Innovation.

By combining two households into one you may be able to buy a far bigger property with a much bigger garden which will improve everybody’s wellbeing and quality of life.

#3 – It is Safer

Not only will your elderly relatives or parents have the physical and mental reassurance that there is somewhere around should they need assistance, but there will be someone in the home during the day when the majority of home burglaries occur.

If you have toddlers around it is always useful to have another pair of eyes and hands around the home too to help keep them out of mischief.

#5 – Everyone Can Help Each Other

The more adults there are in the house the less chores and stress there should be. And grandparents will love to hand down their skills to the younger generation, grandmothers generally love to cook, you can help the older generation with online banking, the grandparents can help out with child minding, you can do their grocery shopping and get their medicines for them.

As long as the chores are shared and nobody feels taken advantage of then the benefits of living together are many.

#6 – Enjoy a Healthier Life

The Later Life UK Report 2019 published by www.ageuk.org.uk states that:

• Older adults living alone are more likely to have to attend A&E than those living with others.
• 21% of people over 65 living alone will visit their GP at least once a month compared with 14% of those who live with others.
• 50% of older adults living alone are more likely to have 3 or more long term health conditions compared with 42% who live with others.
• 1 in 4 older adults who live alone are likely to have mental health conditions compared with 1 in 5 who live with others

#7 – Enjoy a Longer Life

A study published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, concluded that healthy people living in two-generation households survived longer than healthy people living on their own.

#8 – Share Valuable Life Skills

There will be a wealth of knowledge and skills under one roof in multigenerational homes and sharing that knowledge will not only bond the family closer together, but be essential in helping the kids learn valuable life skills.

From cooking and budgeting, to technology and gardening, there are many skills that the family can share, benefiting you all.

#9 – Better for the Environment

Having two households under one roof is better for the environment too.

Rather than using energy to heat two homes, now only one needs to be heated. You will likely produce less packing and food waste too.

And the chances are your parents know frugal ways to save that you don’t!

What are the Disadvantages of Living in a Multigenerational Home?

#1 – Cost of Adapting the Family Home

One of the biggest disadvantages of having parents move into your family home is adapting the living space to accommodate any mobility problems they may have. Or it may be that you have to have an extension on your existing home to accommodate them.

Either scenario will result in some quite significant costs. However, if you are going from two to one house then these costs should be negligible if there is equity in the home being sold.

At the bottom of this guide, you will find a list of organisations that will be able to offer you support and advice on any grants that you may be entitled to to help meet these costs.

#2 – Family Tensions

It is inevitable that arguments and disagreements will occur if there are a number of people living under one roof.

The most common reasons for tensions within the home are finances, responsibilities, and disagreements over parenting styles.

It will make everyone’s life so much easier if you establish ground rules right from the start and head off any problems before they become a big issue.

#3 – Less Privacy

This will be less of an issue if you have the luxury of being able to build an annex for the elderly parents or relatives to live in. But if you are all living within the same four walls then you need to establish boundaries and ground rules. This may include knocking on doors before entering or having some quiet space to be alone.

#4 – More Noise

If your elderly parents or relative are used to living alone then having to live with the noise of youngsters or teenagers may be a source of conflict. It is best to establish ground rules such as quiet times of the day or where the children can run around and play.

Multigenerational Living Tips

If you are thinking of moving back in with your parents with your own family, or you are a parent moving in with your adult children, here are some tips that may make the whole experience so much easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

#1 – Don’t Take people for Granted

Whilst the grandparents are sure to love being around the grandkids, their days of being a parent are over. So don’t take it for granted that they will always be willing or able to look after your kids.

When you are all in the home then make sure that you are around to look after the kids, controlling them and not leaving the parenting to the grandparents.

Equally don’t take it for granted that your adult child has the time to go to 8 different shops on their lunch break or can take you every Thursday afternoon to get your hair done.

#2 – Respect the Home

This is especially aimed at adults who have moved back in with parents with their family.

Try to keep the common areas as tidy as possible. Clear away the kids’ toys each night, make sure your washing up is done, and help clean the areas that you all use. 

Have respect for your parents’ home and try not to make your living there a burden for them by creating extra work for them.

#3 – Communicate

None of you are mind readers and it is better to discuss and resolve issues before they become real problems.

Set rules as to what is acceptable and what is not, not just from the children but from the adults too.

But good communication is more than that. Take the time to regularly see that everyone is OK. Are they frustrated by something, is someone annoyed by anothers actions, what is going well or not so well.

#4 – Create a Private Space

Everybody is going to need some alone time every now and then. Try to create a space where anybody can retreat to for relaxation or to do a hobby. This could be a shed, attic, garage, bedroom, or even an area of the garden.

#5 – Share

If you can share your hobbies, interests, even just sharing time with each other, then the experience of multiple generations living together will be so much more rewarding for everyone.

The grandparents can share knowledge or practical tips, general life skills, whilst the children could show them how to send emails or how to use the latest apps to make their lives easier.

Just spending time in the garden, going for a walk, taking the grandparents to sports day, or playing a board game every now and then will help everyone bond and feel more included within the extended family unit.

And remember that you can also share emotions, good and bad. There will be happy and sad times, stressful and joyful times, but getting through them together will create memories that will be treasured forever.

Is it Possible to Live in a Multigenerational Flat?

Multigenerational living does not have to mean a couple, two kids, and two grandparents living together.

The break-up of a relationship, or an individual having finished university for example may want to move back in with their parents, or the single elderly parent may want to move into their adult childs flat.

Space will usually be at a premium in a flat, but with some creative thinking then there are ways to create extra sleeping room.

Sofa beds or bunk beds are an easy way to instantly create extra sleeping space.

The advantage of a flat is that all the accommodation is on one level so the elderly or infirm do not have to worry about steps.

And if you are in a rented block of flats there may also be the option of renting an adjacent flat. Although this will obviously incur two lots of bills it will allow you extra privacy whilst still being able to care for elderly relatives if you need to. And when circumstances change in the future it will just be a case of ending the lease.

Practical Tips for Multigenerational Homes

So far we have looked at the emotional and physical advantages and disadvantages of living in a multigenerational home. But how do you optimize your living space for having multiple generations living under one roof?

#1 – Privacy

As we have discovered so far, having multiple generations under one roof has many positive advantages.

But however close a family is, everybody needs to escape sometimes, to have some alone time, some privacy.

It may be that the bedroom will the most obvious sanctuary for each member of the family, but you can also consider having private areas within the garden for example.

If space allows perhaps you could have a garden building or convert a garage into a hobby room.

You may be able to convert the loft into a play room for the kids or a separate leisure area for your family.

Whilst it is valuable to have communal areas, such as kitchens and dining areas, think about where you will be able to get some peace and quiet, or where you can move noisy activities to so that the communal areas are quieter.

#2 – Separate entrances

If you can incorporate separate entrances into your home plan this will enhance the feeling of independent living.

#3 – Plan ahead

When creating the living space within your multigenerational home take into account the occupants future needs. This may mean wheelchair access, grab rails, walk in shower units, or repurposing the space for another use.

#4 – Add bedrooms

Following on from the plan ahead theme, try to have as many bedrooms as possible. It is easy to convert a bedroom into an office or playroom, it is not so easy to convert an open plan diner into a bedroom for example.

#5 – Bathrooms

 It will make life far easier for all if there are enough bathrooms, ideally one for each generation within the home.

For elderly parents or relatives you may also need to consider having grab rails, walk in showers, wheelchair level sinks, or non-slip flooring.

#6 – Ground floor for the elderly or infirm

Ideally plan that the ground floor of the home is where the accommodation is for those who have or may have mobility problems in the future. This will save the expense of having to install stairlifts in the future.

#7 – Lofts and basements

For younger family members you could consider converting lofts or basements into bedrooms for them. This would then free up the more accessible bedrooms for those who need easier access.

#8 – Utilise Garages and Garden Rooms

If you have a garage or garden room then you may consider converting these into an extra bedroom or living space. It is often far cheaper to convert an outbuilding than have an extension or annex added to an existing building.

#9 – New builds

Another option is to consider buying two adjacent new builds. Although this is obviously more expensive it allows you to be able to care for the elderly relative or parent whilst both you and they maintain an independent lifestyle.

#10 – Laws and Legislation

Here is a useful link to www.kslaw.co.uk which explains the laws regarding building extensions and annexes.

Should I Move In With My Parents?

There can be many reasons why you are thinking of moving back in with your parents, and don’t worry, you are not alone in doing that.

In 2018, 1 in 4 young adults aged between 20 and 34 were living with their parents according to data from the Office of National Statistics.

You may be at a stage of your life where you need to step back, regroup, and get yourself back on your feet so that you can move forward again.

Or it could be that you are moving back into your family home because it is more convenient for commuting to your new job.

Or perhaps your elderly parents need some degree of help and care.

Whatever your reasons, there are some practical steps you can take to make the transition as rewarding and easy as possible.

#1 – Multigenerational homes are normal

All over the world young adults live with their parents, often only leaving to get married. And as the research above shows, more and more adults are living with their parents, so although you may feel a bit strange about moving back home, it is perfectly normal.

So if you can remove that ‘is it bad to live with your parents’ worry from your mind then you will be less stressed about the prospect and more inclined to make it a win-win for both parties.

#2 – Set the ground rules

You may feel a bit like a teenager moving back home and living with parents again, and equally your parents maternal instincts may resurface so it is a good idea to set some ground rules.

This may include a cleaning rota, how much rent you will pay, or contributions to household bills for example.

But it should also include some privacy rules such as knocking before coming into the bedroom, or how late you can play music.

If you are moving back home as an adult with kids then you may want to set some rules about parenting, discipline, quiet times, and general house rules.

#4 – Set a goal

If this is intended as a short-term stay then set a realistic goal as to when you will moving out again. Set yourself a budget and a goal of how much money you will save each month.

Discuss with your parents how your plan is progressing regularly, they will want to know, and may be even willing to help you reach your goals.

#5 – Earn money

Even if you have returned home because you lost your job, you may be able to get some part-time work somewhere in the short-term.

This will not only help you psychologically but will help you get back on your feet financially too.

#6 – Contribute

Contribute to the running of the home in whatever way you can. This could be financially or by helping with household chores.

This will not only help your parents but will also make you feel more independent.

#7 – Be responsible

Look after the living space they have given you. Keep it clean and tidy and help clean the communal parts of the home too.

If you have kids with you then make a point of clearing all their toys away every night.

#8 – Interact

Make the time to spend quality time with your parents. Take an interest in their lives, and let them know what is going on in your life.

Help around the house and garden, help with the shopping. Small things like this will help you all build a stronger bond and make living together easier.

#9 – Make some you time

Although spending time with your parents is important, it is also vitally important that you get some quality time to yourself too.

Whether that be some retail therapy, a stroll in the park, or sat reading a book. Have some time away from everything so that you can recharge your batteries.

#10 – Respect

At the end of the day if you are moving back in with your parents then you will need to respect their house rules.

You may not like or agree with them, but if this is just a short-term measure then you will just have to grit your teeth and accept some things.

If this is a long term or permanent arrangement then you will need to set out the rules that all of you can agree upon.

Should Your Ageing Parent Move in With You?

With the spiraling cost of living and healthcare, it is becoming more and more common that parents are moving into their adult children’s homes.

As we have already seen there are many benefits for all parties, but there are also downsides and things to seriously consider before coming to a decision as to whether your parents should come and live with you.

12 Things to consider when thinking of sharing your house with your parents:

• What would happen in the future if your parent required caring for?
• Would you be financially secure enough to give up work and look after your parent?
• What implications would giving up work have on your pension or retirement plans?
• Does your parent require assistance and are you able to provide that level of care?
• Are you physically and mentally strong enough to cope with caring for an elderly person?
• What would happen in the event you were unable to cope with the elderly parent, would they need home help or have to go into a care home?
• Will the home require any work to make it safe/suitable for your parent?
• Will the parent contribute financially to the running of the house?
• Will having the parent contribute financially affect any benefits you may receive?
• Will having them live with you affect your council tax?
• Are all your family in agreement that this is the best solution?
• If you are a couple, what would happen if you split up?

You may also like to read this guide from www.which.co.uk which goes into the legal aspects of having elderly parents come live with you.

Useful Contacts

Where to get support and advice if you are thinking of having your parents or elderly relatives come live with you:

• Age UK
• Citizens Advice
• Money Advice Service
• Carers UK
• Carers Trust
• Alzheimer’s Society
• Government Carers Allowance

Tips for Moving into a Multigenerational Home

If you have made the decision that living in a multigenerational home is a great idea and will work for the whole family, then the next stage is to organise the move itself.

You may find that you or your parents have far too much stuff to fit into the available space in the home, or that you need to remove certain items of furniture to make more space. Many people find that hiring a storage unit is a cost-effective solution to this problem.

But in the first place is it amazing how much extra space you can make in a home by decluttering. Equally there are things that you will not want to pay to put into storage and you may be able to hire a smaller storage unit once you have decluttered.

And one other point to mention is that moving home is stressful. Especially for older people. There are some useful tips in the guide below about moving home in later life that will help your parents cope with the transition to their new home.

In our home moving blog you will many useful guides and tips to make your move easier, safer, cheaper, and less stressful, but here are some essential guides to get you started.

Must read:

• How to Declutter Your Home for Moving
• How to Choose a Storage Unit
• The Ultimate Guide of Where to Donate Things
• Moving House in Later Life
• How to Move Out of a Home You Love

Once you have decluttered the home it is time to start getting price quotes from removal companies. It can often work out even cheaper to rent storage if the removal company can provide both a removal and storage service, so ask the question when looking to hire a removal firm.

You can get free removal cost quotes from up to four reliable removal companies just by filling out the quote form. It takes just a couple of minutes to do and you are under no obligation.

We hope you have found this guide useful but you have any tips that you would like to pass onto other families thinking about living in a multigenerational home, then please leave a comment below.