In Guernsey, the movement towards multi-generational households is on the rise, as seen in families such as that of Sarah Clayton. For almost a decade, Clayton has lived in that same house with her extended family. This intimate family unit comprises her mom and her baby girl. It was when her husband passed away in 2016 that would be the impetus to form a multi-generational household. Soon after, Clayton was able to buy back the family house.
Clayton called the deal a “no-brainer,” pointing out that being able to have family nearby during difficult times is important. She acknowledged that while everyone occasionally gets annoyed with each other, they make allowances and prioritize the importance of space in their shared living environment.
Statistical information shows that it’s a pretty interesting development in Guernsey. Nearly one-in-five households there have three or more adults age 16 and older. Interestingly, nearly half of these households include at least one child, showing that the trend is becoming more widely adopted and socially accepted.
Andre Austin, the firm’s director of local market sales, said living under the same roof across generations works well for a lot of families. “Maybe they are at a later stage of life and they have younger members of family on tap to help them,” Austin explained. This dynamic alone calling for an ongoing pattern of mutual assistance among family members helps improve the overall quality and standard of life.
Housing expert, Henry Prior said the need for multi-generational homes is increasing dramatically. Though as far as actual construction practices go, he said this trend has yet to be widely adopted. “Constructing multi-generational homes is not yet standard practice for builders,” Prior stated. The demand for these hybrid forms of living is exploding. Yet the housing market has not adjusted to fill this need.
According to local estate agent Swoffers, today’s market is a clear indication of this increasing openness. They have hosted about 70 local market presentations and have two that specifically focus on families looking for multi-generational housing. Yet, despite the benefits, one big challenge has been the lack of appropriate properties that can fit these households’ distinctive needs.
A spokesperson from the Planning Service commented on the evolving housing landscape: “While there aren’t set standards that new housing developments are required to meet to specifically accommodate multi-generational living, in the last political term, revised supplementary planning guidance on ancillary or associated living accommodation units was published to support multi-generational living in existing housing.” Designed as a replacement for previous strict standards, this guidance reflects the shift toward a more flexible approach embodied within the Island Development Plan.
