Top Benefits: Companionship for the Elderly and Lower Living Costs for Renters
Biggest Hurdles: Privacy Concerns and Risk of Household Tensions
Almost three in five renters (59%) believe the government should support and promote intergenerational living programmes, as they face ongoing challenges in securing affordable rental accommodation while trying to save for a home.
The research, commissioned by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC (Aviva), explored attitudes towards intergenerational living—an arrangement where younger individuals or couples live with older adults at a nominal cost in exchange for companionship and support. The study also examined the perceived benefits and concerns associated with such living arrangements.
Among the 59% of renters who support government-backed intergenerational living initiatives, 20% strongly agreed and 39% agreed. A further 26% were neutral, while 15% disagreed, including 8% who strongly opposed the idea.
The Aviva survey found that:
- Those at the younger age cohorts of 18-24 (35%) were more strongly in favour of the idea of intergenerational living, compared to 20% of those aged 55+
- Over half (52%) of 25–34-year-olds agreed that government should promote intergenerational living programs, with 31% of those aged 55+ also in agreement.
- Interestingly, the highest percentage of strong opposition to the idea (12%) also came from the 18-24 age group.
Perceived Benefits:
Respondents to the survey believe that companionship for the elderly (56%), reduced living costs for young people while allowing them to save (55%), and support with household tasks/food shopping for the elderly (45%) were the top three benefits. Additional benefits included an opportunity for cross-generational learning, whereby 42% saw value in younger people learning from older generations, while 30% noted the reverse. Some 36% of respondents believe it would provide an enhanced sense of community and support. Overall, 85% of respondents identified at least one benefit associated with intergenerational living.
Concerns Raised:
Privacy issues (49%), potential for conflicts or misunderstandings (48%), compatibility of lifestyles (48%) or other compatibility issues (45%) were amongst the top concerns with intergenerational living arrangements. Other concerns included upsetting the status quo for the elderly person (39%), health and safety concerns for the elderly (39%), concerns over household bills and energy costs (32%) and the responsibility and time commitment for young people (25%). Only 7% of all respondents had no concerns at all, rising to 10% amongst those renting their homes.
Age-Based Insights:
- Privacy and conflict concerns were shared equally by both younger (18–24) and older (55+) age groups.
- Compatibility concerns were more prevalent among younger respondents (18–34).
- 14% of those aged 45–54 expressed no concerns about the arrangement.
Given the myriads of challenges facing those looking to secure accommodation in today’s rental market, perhaps it is time that government explored what other options are available. Whether it is for young people looking for accommodation when they are away from home in third level education, or those starting their working lives and hoping to get on the property ladder in the future, there must be some other options worth exploring to understand if there might be an appropriate or perhaps a better solution. Intergenerational living, whereby young people pay a nominal rent while providing support to the person they are living with may just provide a sensible solution for many.
Julie Frazer, Underwriting & Product Lead, Aviva commented.
“According to the most recent Daft.ie report, the average rent in Ireland is currently around €2,053 per month, a figure that surpassed €2,000 for the first time in Q1 of this year. In addition, the average rent for new tenancies in County Dublin is €2,128 per month and outside of the greater Dublin area is €1,530. Parents and indeed young people starting out paying market rents will have little opportunity to be able to save for a home of their own and it will likely remain a pipe dream for them. In recent times there has been a push to encourage older people to downsize and move to smaller, more accessible homes to address the housing crisis by freeing up family homes. While this may be a realistic option to get more family homes coming to the market, it won’t help young people save while they are living in rented accommodation."
“Having an awareness of the concerns around the challenges posed by intergenerational living allows government or the housing agency to introduce measures to mitigate against these concerns, and to find workable solutions for all. These arrangements can offer real benefits—from easing financial pressures on younger people to reducing isolation among older adults. Of course, it’s important to acknowledge the practical concerns people have, such as privacy and compatibility. Any future programmes would need to be thoughtfully designed to ensure they work well for everyone involved,” concluded Julie Frazer.