entrance and a connecting door to the main house that allowed them to maintain their privacy. This works well in her having her own space, but they always enjoy family mealtimes together too. Living together has its
Intergenerational living can have huge benefi ts, both personally and fi nancially
Happy families
All together now! There’s a new lifestyle trend and France off ers the ideal aff ordable opportunity, says Clare Rolt
F
ollowing the isolation felt by so many people during the Covid lockdowns where
extended families weren’t allowed to see each other, there followed a huge wave of clients looking to buy properties that off ered the chance of multigenerational living. The opportunity for grandparents, parents and children to live together and make up for lost family time from Covid proved extremely tempting for both French and international clients alike. Since then, rising living
costs and interest rates have seen this trend continue. With many families unable to aff ord the properties they want by themselves, spreading the cost between two parties has proved to be very popular. Multigenerational living
has been a large part of French culture for a long time, with many French families prioritising close family ties and support. Thankfully, a large number of French properties off er this possibility, whether it be via existing independent living accommodation, the potential to create extra space in barns and outbuildings or
simply just because, in general, a lot of French houses tend to have a larger living area than their UK counterparts. Living in France as an
extended family can be a great way to off er both emotional and social support. Being together for a morning coff ee or evening apéritif, cooking traditional food together or just going out for a walk in the beautiful French countryside – all of this helps people to feel less isolated and cared for. This is especially important as, even now Covid is behind us, government statistics in 2023 show that one in three adults aged 50-80 years old continues to feel isolated from others.
FORGING FAMILY BONDS For grandparents and grandchildren living together, there are benefi ts on all sides. Having grandparents on hand to help with the children can be a godsend, helping busy parents and reducing the need for formal childcare. Children benefi t from learning values and traditions from their grandparents while parents benefi t from having more time and lower childcare costs.
34 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2024
In France, it is very common for grandparents to take care of grandchildren, especially during the long eight-week summer holidays. There is certainly no shortage of activities to do together, be it visiting local festivals or attractions, spending a day at the beach or by the river or simply being together outside swimming or playing. Spending precious time
with grandchildren has also shown to off er several health benefi ts to grandparents. According to Dr Hussaini of Henry Ford Health, time with grandchildren can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and depression, and improve physical fi tness and brain health. It’s just important to set boundaries about how much childcare is possible to make sure grandparents don’t overstretch themselves. Laura and Keith moved to
rural France from Bermuda in 2015 and they have a son and daughter, aged 7 and 11. Following Brexit, Keith’s mum Wendy decided to move over from the UK and join them so they converted their two B&B rooms into an independent apartment with a separate
challenges, particularly culturally as Laura is American and Wendy is British: “We speak the same language, but American and British communication styles can be very diff erent!” At the same time, the kids love having their grandma with them, especially their son, who shares a very close bond with her. Fulfi lling the dream of
moving to France, particularly with ageing parents can reduce the worry of leaving them behind in another country, knowing that you’re close by if any problems arise. It can be a great option for
older family members to keep their independence as long as possible, but give peace of mind knowing that help is on hand if needed. Younger family members can help out too, off ering companionship or helping out with chores or shopping. It provides a great quality of life for ageing family members, and allows them to share in and enjoy precious moments together.
FINANCIAL BENEFITS Rising living costs and energy prices have meant that pooling resources has become a savvy decision in helping to manage these uncertain times. Buying groceries together and sharing utility bills, for example, can share the fi nancial burden. Not only this but putting money together to buy a property can give families a wider choice of properties – houses that were once beyond reach or properties in a more desirable location. This could mean fi nding a property with land or a pool, or in a town that is walking distance to amenities that wouldn’t have been possible before. Of course, when considering
living together as a larger extended family, it is important to set boundaries from the outset to make sure all sides are happy. Understanding what is possible with regards
© SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
