Can't afford a family home? How generations are clubbing together to live under one roof
The number of households containing two or more families is expected to rise from 1.5 million to 2.2 million by 2025, according to estimates by insurer Aviva .
A squeeze on wages coupled with soaring house prices have left many without the income to buy a decent-sized family home. Pooling resources and bunking up with elderly parents could be the solution.
'A shift back to old-fashioned living arrangements is the answer for many,' says Tom Pether, senior negotiator at Jackson-Stops & Staff in Dorset.
'We're following the path of the Europeans where generations of families all live together. Where the numbers add up, it makes perfect sense.'
Family having a healthy meal, in victorian style greenhouse
YOUR PLACE OR MINE
Traditionally , families might choose to convert a garage, garden outhouse or annexe into a separate space where elderly parents can live.
Yet it's often retired parents who own the larger family home — where they haven't downsized — and so the younger generations are moving in.
'Retired parents can get a helping hand from younger family members to make sure the property is maintained, such as mowing the lawn and other heavy duty jobs. And in return they get to live in a much larger home, in the area where they want to be,' says Pether.
Strutt & Parker is marketing an 18th-century family home in Shropshire, Whitcott Hall, which has seven bedrooms in the main house, plus a two-storey annexe with a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (£695,000, struttandparker.com).
MAKING THE DIVIDE
To cater for the lifestyles of the various age groups, professionals can be brought in to divide the house up into separate units. Chris Romer-Lee of Studio Octopi says he has seen a marked increase in enquiries from those wanting to adapt their home to share with extended family.
'Well thought-out house design is key to living in a multi-family home to ensure everyone has their own space and privacy. This could involve adding an extra bedroom, bathroom or annexe.
'You may even want to consider creating separate entrances.'
SOUND MOVE
Moving services such as drainage, water and electricity supplies around the property can be costly so it might be more economic to be creative with what you have.
Romer-Lee says: 'Placing a new kitchenette on the other side of a bathroom wall is sensible.'
In the village of Cliddesden near Basingstoke, Hampshire: three-bedroom The Laithe House has two staircases, as well as a separate one-bedroom bungalow. Savills.com, 01962 841842.£765,000
Having a range of ages under one roof, often operating on different time schedules, can be also be a noisy experience. Locating bedrooms adjacent to each other is preferable to a new living room next to a bedroom or vice versa.
'Where you are restricted, sound reverberation can be deadened by soft furnishings or absorbent wall hangings such as felt or acoustic panels,' says Romer-Lee.
PRACTICALITIES
All changes to a property should be checked with the local authority planning department or independent planning specialist.
Alterations to the external appearance will require planning permission, including the creation of a separate entrance.
Three generations live in this ten-bedroom mansion near Dorchester, Dorset. Each of its three floors has a kitchen.Jackson-Stops.co.uk, 01305 262123.£1.795 MILLION
BUYING A NEW HOME
If the existing family home isn't big enough, it might make sense to buy a new property. Separate houses would mean a purchase price, stamp duty and legal fees paid twice.
By pooling money, an extended family could move into a much bigger home with money leftover in the bank, too.
This Grade II-listed Georgian terrace house in Bristol has five en-suite bedrooms - two of which are on the lower ground floor.Fineandcountry.com, 0117 973 3081.£820,000
ADDED VALUE
Experts are convinced that adapting a home to create separate living spaces will be beneficial when it comes to a resale.
Sarah Beeny, of online estate agent Tepilo, says: 'A family home with separate living space is highly desirable when it comes to resale. Other buyers might be looking to do the same thing.
'Equally, a separate living space can be used by teenage children or an au pair.'
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
There are some who will choose to live communally in one large property but a ready-made annexe sorts out the space and privacy issue.
Strutt & Parker is marketing an 18th-century family home in Shropshire, Whitcott Hall, which has seven bedrooms in the main house, plus a two-storey annexe with a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (£695,000, struttandparker.com).
