Nottingham Guardian - Multi-Generational Living Rises in UK as Families Seek Financial Stability

The number of families in the United Kingdom opting for multi-generational living arrangements is rising sharply, with analysis indicating that approximately 1.8 million households now share homes across three generations. This figure represents roughly 7 percent of all UK households, according to data derived from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey.

The trend is increasingly driven by economic pressure rather than preference. James Greenwood, a property expert at Stacks Property Search, noted that the growth in buyers seeking properties suitable for multiple generations is fueled by necessity. He cited soaring care home fees and the inability of young adults to afford independent housing as primary factors. "Many families would rather have a parent nearby than in residential care," Greenwood said, adding that some households are combining these needs by having adult children move back home while also caring for aging parents.

For Bryony Jones, 37, and her husband Kieran, 42, the decision to move back in with her parents was a response to immediate financial crisis. In 2021, Kieran, a catering director, was made redundant. At the time, Bryony, an operations manager, had recently started a new role and was eligible only for statutory maternity pay while expecting their second child.

"We knew instantly that we weren’t going to be able to make our rent, and it was quite scary," Jones said. The couple asked her parents, Ian, 70, and Ann Saunders, 65, if they could move in with them.

The four households, all previously renting in Hove, needed a larger property. They searched together and found a spacious farmhouse in the South Downs that had previously accommodated multi-generational tenants. The family moved in during November 2021. Jones initially viewed the arrangement as a temporary financial fix but noted that five years later, they remain there.

The financial benefits are tangible. The couple split the rent with their parents, resulting in a cost lower than the £4,500 per month they had collectively paid for their separate houses in Hove. Bills are divided roughly equally, requiring frank discussions about spending. Jones emphasized the importance of each adult having their own bill to maintain individual credit ratings.

"No one likes to talk about money, but you have to have those awkward conversations," she said. Despite these challenges, the arrangement has provided stability. "You don’t feel quite as vulnerable," Jones explained. "It’s nice to have more than two billpayers, because if one falls out, it feels like your whole world has been turned upside down."

To maintain privacy, the family occupies opposite ends of the farmhouse. Each side has its own bathrooms, bedrooms, and living spaces. Jones noted that this separation is crucial for harmony. The children, aged five and seven, have learned to respect boundaries, knocking before entering their grandparents' area.

Childcare is managed through a paid arrangement rather than free labor. The couple pays Ian for twice-weekly childcare at a slightly discounted rate. This keeps money within the family while ensuring the grandparents are compensated. "It ticks everyone’s boxes, and it works really well for us," Jones said. "We have got our babysitters on tap, so we do get to go out more, but it means that I don’t feel like I’m taking them for granted."

Jones, who documents their life on social media under the handle @oursussexfarmhouse, admitted that moving back in was initially embarrassing. "Back then, I wouldn’t have called it multi-generational living," she said. "Now, it feels like a choice. We probably could move out, but we’re all enjoying it."

However, the arrangement has a finite timeline. With Ann approaching retirement, Jones acknowledges that the setup may become unaffordable if only two people are earning. "We’re just taking each day as it comes," she said. "It’s an adventure, and I’m glad we’ve done it. I think it’s a chapter in our life that everyone will remember fondly."

Another example of this trend is Rochelle Hearl, 37, her husband Matt, and their four children. In Cornwall, the family was already living near Hearl’s mother, Mandy, who resided in a bungalow behind the house Hearl and Matt had purchased from her parents.

"We realised we were basically multi-generational living, just with separate title deeds," Hearl said. The proximity made daily interaction easy, prompting discussions about formalizing their living situation. As an only child and a social worker, Hearl was concerned about the future cost of care for her mother.

The family decided to sell their two neighboring properties and buy a larger home nearby. They constructed a self-contained annexe in the garden for Mandy. Hearl and Matt paid £650,000 for the main property, with Mandy gifting them funds toward the purchase and covering the cost of the annexe.

The annexe construction cost approximately £130,000. Hearl noted that this amount is less than two years’ worth of care home fees. The family moved into the main house in September of last year, and Mandy moved into the completed one-bedroom annexe in August.

The annexe includes its own kitchen and living space, designed to feel like a separate house. "Most people say: ‘I couldn’t live with my mum’. But I’m not – my mum lives in the garden," Hearl said. The households eat separately to preserve privacy, though they share Sunday lunches.

Childcare is not part of this arrangement. Hearl and Matt have three teenagers and a toddler. "People think that it’s a live-in babysitter, but it’s definitely not," Hearl clarified. "She’s not being taken advantage of by raising another child. But equally, we’ve got a bit more support."

The move has reduced costs for the family. There is no council tax for the annexe, and energy and maintenance bills are lower than those for a full house. Bills are split based on previous usage. Hearl, who shares her experience online as @granny_in_ourgarden, believes the arrangement instills family values.

"It just brings families a bit closer together," she said. "I think this will be our forever home. In the future, the children might want to live here, with me and my husband in the annexe. You don’t know what it will look like."

Experts predict that multi-generational living will continue to grow as housing affordability remains a challenge. Greenwood of Stacks Property Search stated, "There are huge benefits for the families that get this right. I expect it to keep growing."

O.Somerville--NG