Number of multigenerational households in Australia projected to grow about 63 per cent by 2046

It used to be that people couldn’t wait to move out of home, but now it seems we’re doing everything to keep the family together. The number of multi-generational family households — defined as at least two adult generations of a family living together — are projected to grow at about twice the rate of regular family households. Projections by the Australian Bureau of Statistics anticipate the number of couples, nuclear, and single-parent families living with a relative — usually an older parent — will increase about 63 per cent by 2046. This compares to 30 per cent growth for family households over the same period. The living arrangement has recently been subject to fierce debate on social media, after TV personality Martha Kalifatidis argued it was a desirable option for families like her own, rather than merely a financial necessity. Married At First Sight star Kalifatidis said she, her husband Michael Brunelli and their son had willingly opted to live at her parent’s home in Melbourne. “The sad thing is you probably believe we live with my parents to capitalise off of the situation, that is furthest from the truth,” the 36-year-old told her social media followers. “Living with my parents brings us closer, fosters mutual support, and creates a rich environment where wisdom and experience blend. It also brings my parents happiness. “I feel sorry for you, that you can’t see the benefits of our situation.” However, leading builder Summit Homes believes an increasing number of homeowners can see the benefits, prompting a 30 per cent increase in inquiries for its ancillary dwellings over the past year. Adrian Sutton, general manager of Summit’s renovations, development and granny flats, said these living arrangements were most popular with Indian, Chinese, Italian and Greek families a decade ago. But they were now increasingly common across the board, particularly with the rising cost of living and changes to the planning codes which made it easier to build in backyards. “We find the demand is across all nationalities now, but that was not always the case,” Mr Sutton said. “We used to see demand dominated by cultures that were more family-oriented, with a tradition of multi-generational living.” Real estate agent Paul Tonich, from The Agency, said while multi-gen home were a small part of the market he agreed everyone was embracing the trend, although he said it was usually prompted by financial considerations. “People are looking at what it costs to put their parents in aged care and what it costs to put their children in day care, and realising a studio in the backyard is a financially astute decision,” Mr Tonich said. He said multi-generational homes under one roof — with multiple rooms and separate living areas — had become so popular in the post-COVID era that these properties were a hit no matter where they were. Buyers usually found them through online search criteria specifying multi-generational homes, rather than hunting in a particular suburb. “They want these homes and they will make it work, no matter where it is,” Mr Tonich said. He said offers for such homes in Balcatta — which has a strong Italian community and a median property price of $751,000 — had topped $2.5 million in some cases. Genevieve Lyons last week welcomed her parents into a granny flat in her backyard in White Gum Valley. She said both her and her husband’s extended families had a history of caring for elderly parents in the family home. But while she was largely driven by a desire to ensure her parents’ wellbeing, it also made financial sense to opt for multi-generational living. She said her mother and father had initially sought to downsize to a unit or apartment but became concerned their savings would be eaten up by strata fees. The decision to build a granny flat meant they avoided this and the cost of a block of land. And the granny flat will one day, hopefully in the distant future, become a source of rental income for Mrs Lyons and her husband Murray. She said she enjoyed her parents’ company, especially when her husband was away for work, and was also grateful to have built-in dogsitters. But there are some important ground rules in place. This included having a gate between the homes and ensuring there were also no unexpected drop-ins, with a text required before a home visit. “It feels no different to living next door to someone,” Ms Lyons said. Commercial architect Greg Niziskiotis, who wrote a university thesis on multi-generational residential living, said the key to making the arrangement work was to ensure everyone’s independence. This involved having single-level access from the street through the front door to at least one bedroom, as well everyday amenities like the kitchen, laundry, lounge and bathroom. Mr Niziskiotis, from Studio Niz, said this ensured older generations could age independently. He said at least one bedroom, doors and corridors needed to be big enough for a wheelchair, so if older family members needed one they could get around and into bed by themselves. Equally, younger generations needed easy access through a second entry, to avoid having to pass the parents and grandparents when coming home with friends. Potential problems occurred when independence was destroyed, and the mutual benefit veered into co-dependence. “Independence has a dual benefit in that it not only makes us happier, but it has a physical impact as well,” Mr Niziskiotis, said. Equally, at least one big communal area in the home was important, too. “A space to reconnect is key — it is the reason why we have a multi-generational home,” Mr Niziskiotis said. “It becomes a way to stay united while ensuring full autonomy.”