Under One Roof

In addition to age and gender, there are longstanding cultural factors that influence living arrangements across Britain’s diverse communities.    

Indeed, our survey found that 16% of respondents live in a multi-generational household due to ‘cultural traditions and expectations’. This figure climbs to 24% among younger millennials (25-34 years olds) and 27% in the South East overall.

London and Birmingham shared top billing as the UK cities with the highest rates (38%) of multi-generational living.

But do these stats reflect strong family ties, or are there underlying economic trends? Our survey suggests that even with the best will in the world, it’s not always easy to ‘keep it in the family’.

•  67% of respondents agreed that multi-generational households are more of a necessity now due to the cost of living crisis. Women were more likely than men to agree – 72% versus 63%.
  
  
• 40% of people who are living in a multi-generational household said the cost of living crisis was the reason. This was highest (46%) among older millennials (35-44 year olds).
  
  
• Across the UK, many attributed their multi-generational living arrangement to the cost of living crisis. They were most likely to live in Northern Ireland (55%), the North West (46%) and Greater London (44%).
  
  
• When asked what the main benefit of multi-generational living was, people were most likely to answer ‘contribution to the bills’ (49%). But the age gap was significant, perhaps reflecting the differing perspectives of homeowners and their adult children. 66% of 65-76 year olds cited ‘contribution to the bills’ as a benefit, compared to 38% of 18-24 year olds.

They say blood is thicker than water, but even in the closest of families, it’s not always possible to ‘keep the peace’.

Almost a fifth (18%) of respondents said they wouldn’t let anyone move into their own home with them. This was higher among men (22%) than women (15%), and as high as 29% among 65-76 year olds.

However, our survey found that most of us would be happy to live with our nearest and dearest. So who would we tolerate living in close quarters?

Of course, situations differ – not everyone has grandparents or adult children, for example – but the results show some interesting trends by age, gender and geography.

• The age group likeliest to have adult children (65-76 year olds) were also most likely (51%) to say they’d let their grown-up children live with them. Are we more conscious of getting family support in later life?
  
  
• Gen Z were the most likely to put aside sibling rivalries. Almost half (48%) of 18-24 year olds said they would let a sibling live with them.
  
  
• Regionally, people in Cardiff were more likely than anywhere else to say they’d take in grandparents (22%).
  
  
• Meanwhile, Greater London was the region where people were most likely to answer ‘mothers’ (41%), and Brighton was the city where people were most likely to say they’d take in adult children (44%).

Living with family members inevitably has its ups and downs. But while no one likes squabbling over the cleaning rota, our survey found that people are generally pro-cohabitation when it comes to multi-generational living.

There were regional differences. For example, multi-generational living gets a chillier reception in Edinburgh (32% net positive) compared to Plymouth (59% net positive).

Additionally, men were slightly more likely to see multi-generational households as a positive (42%) versus women (41%).

So what do people see as the benefits of living with our loved ones across the generations?

• Almost one in two women (46%) selected ‘closer family bond’ as a benefit of multi-generational living.
  
  
• Among older respondents, 51% of 55-64 year olds and 55% of 65-76 year olds said ‘help with elderly care’ was a benefit of living alongside different age groups.
  
  
• Almost half (49%) agreed that it’s important to pass down personal knowledge (like family history and life stories) over the generations.
  
  
• Reflecting on the past, nearly a quarter (24%) said they wished they received more ‘household knowledge’ growing up, such as cooking and cleaning.

While not everyone jumps for joy at the prospect of multi-generational mingling – 34% of 18–24 year olds answered ‘happy’ compared to 49% of 65-76 year olds – the dominant trend was that all age groups are favourably disposed towards interacting across the age divide.

And across the country, these exchanges remind us of a shared past and a bright future. People in Sheffield were most likely to say that interacting with different age groups makes them ‘nostalgic’ (59%). Meanwhile, ‘inspired’ (40%) scored highest in Southampton.