A recent survey commissioned by the online marketplace ImmoScout24 shows that 47 per cent of Germans expect multigenerational living to become more common in future. At the same time, 55 per cent currently view this form of housing negatively. Many can nevertheless imagine this arrangement in their own old age, especially once the practical realities of life become more immediate.
- One in two currently views multigenerational living negatively (55 per cent).
- For their old age, one third of respondents would like a home with people from other age groups (34 per cent), significantly more than would choose a retirement residence or shared home for older people (8 per cent each).
- The older the respondents, the greater their support for multigenerational living: 41 per cent of people aged between 60 and 69 would like to live this way.
- Separate flats in the same building are the ideal form of multigenerational living for the largest group of respondents, at 42 per cent.
Although a majority of people currently reject multigenerational living, most can certainly imagine it for their own old age. What appears contradictory at first glance has understandable reasons on closer inspection, relating primarily to different stages of life and their challenges.
“The figures reveal a classic market failure: demographic change is steadily increasing demand for age-appropriate housing, yet supply is moving in the opposite direction. Age-appropriate flats are also often expensive new builds. This keeps older people in their existing homes, which are often too large, and thereby worsens the housing shortage for every generation,” says ImmoScout24 Managing Director Dr Gesa Crockford.
Concerns about privacy and conflict predominate
A majority of Germans are sceptical about multigenerational living. Some 55 per cent view this form of housing negatively (37 per cent somewhat negatively and 19 per cent very negatively), while only 12 per cent view it positively. The main reasons for rejecting it are concerns about different lifestyles (57 per cent), a lack of privacy (55 per cent) and possible conflicts between generations (50 per cent). Shared activities (49 per cent), caring for family members (47 per cent), practical help around the home (46 per cent) and proximity to family (46 per cent) are cited as the principal general benefits of multigenerational living. Around half of respondents (47 per cent) expect this form of living together to become more common.
The better choice in old age after all: multigenerational living beats a retirement home
Despite the generally critical attitude, a different picture emerges when people consider their own housing preferences in old age. Some 34 per cent of respondents would prefer multigenerational living in later life: 24 per cent with their family and 10 per cent in a multigenerational housing project with people to whom they are not related. This puts the form of housing level with the wish to remain alone or with a partner in familiar surroundings (33 per cent), and well ahead of arrangements such as a retirement residence or shared home for older people (8 per cent each).
The undecided become supporters as they grow older
Compared with younger people, the older generation is considerably more open to multigenerational living. While 29 per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds are open to this form of housing, support rises from 31 per cent among those aged 30-39 to 41 per cent among 60- to 69-year-olds. Between 13 and 18 per cent of every age group say “under no circumstances“ to multigenerational living. The group that changes most markedly with age is the undecided: it falls from 27 per cent among the youngest to just 15 per cent among the oldest.
No free choice: care and housing costs are the main drivers
Moving into a multigenerational home is less a free choice than a response to external circumstances in most cases. Some 45 per cent of respondents name a family member’s need for care as the most important trigger. This is followed by financial pressures such as high housing costs or housing shortages, and the wish for a greater sense of community (36 per cent each).