September 2024
Multigenerational living poses unique challenges to high-rise buildings housing more residents, using more utilities and disposing of more waste than they were built to handle. Elevators and exercise rooms are more congested with more people trying to access limited space.
More young adults living with their parents, and older parents living with their children, while being necessary for many families, is a problem for high-rise condominium and rental communities.
Half of adults ages 18 to 29 were living with one or both of their parents in July 2022 according to the Pew Research Center. In 2000, 38 percent of young adults lived at home. Multigenerational families represented 14 percent of home buyers in 2022 according to the National Association of Realtors.
Mutigenerational living is more than young adults living with their parents. Middle-aged parents are choosing to share space with their parents because the cost of living on their own is so high. It just makes sense for older parents and younger children to share the cost of accommodation. The greatest challenge is when adults, their aging parents requiring assistance, and children wanting to save money need to share the same space.
Aging parents moving in with their children is more economical and practical than a nursing or retirement home. With everyone sharing in paying all living costs, a home becomes easier to maintain.
Multigenerational living, beneficial to the families involved, can cause insurmountable problems in a high-rise community. Exceeding the allowable unit limits puts greater strain on all shared expenses and common areas. More people in a unit create more noise. More waste needs to be disposed of. Elevators are more congested and there are longer delays to obtain one. There is greater use of all common areas causing more wear and requiring more maintenance. Units with more people make heavier use of all utilities paid for by common fees.
Societal trends may someday require communities to facilitate multigenerational living despite restrictions in a corporation’s governing documents.
