I was reading an article about this and other retirement issues yesterday. Part of it was about the housing market being so tight partially because too many seniors are not downsizing out of their big homes into something smaller. But like the article pointed out, the reason is not always stubbornness--although in my Huzz's case it is--but even though they sell the house for a considerable amount of money, there's not always anywhere suitable to move to. Smaller houses or condos or apartments that they can afford are too far away from the services they need and want.
Also they might be moving away from neighbors and sometimes family. And unless they live in a mansion, no matter how much they sell their large family home for, it's still not enough to afford most fancy senior communities for very long.
It's become a real issue, I think.
Same here. They want to downsize, but there is nothing else. So as a solution they split up their house and give half to their kid(s).
Carien en Teun delen hun huis in Lent
Carien and Teun share their house in Lent
Suddenly a home suitable for all stages of life, without us having thought of it
Twenty years ago, Carien (63) and Teun (60) moved into their corner house in Lent, together with their two daughters. The children have since left home, but the house remained the same: spacious, in a nice location…
And, to be honest, quite large for two people. ‘We talked about it often: our house is actually very suitable for sharing. But we were thinking more about later. When we are really old. But now we suddenly knew: this is the moment.’
From family home to house to share
The real trigger came when youngest daughter Cris (25) had to leave her home. Her temporary rental contract was not renewed, and she was suddenly out on the street. Moreover, she was paying a considerable amount for a room with a shared kitchen, shower, and toilet. ‘That wouldn't get any better in this hopeless housing market,’ says Carien. ‘Then we thought: why doesn't she just come and live upstairs with us?’ They did not want to return to the family structure of the past.
‘That was immediately clear to all of us; we value our own lives and really wanted to create two independent living units.’ And so they got to work: they created a living room in the attic and an extra kitchenette in the landing next to it, and installed a connecting door in the hall downstairs to split the house.
Daughter number two follows
As if it were meant to be, their eldest daughter Margot (29) also indicated that she would like to live in Lent again. She lives in a small studio in Utrecht, with rent that swallows up more than half of her income, and she sees no chance of finding something better anytime soon. Renting or buying a nice home is unfeasible. And above all, unaffordable.
So soon both daughters will be living in the ‘upstairs house’. Carien and Teun live downstairs – with their own entrance via the garden. Officially, it has simply remained one address. ‘We have a corner house, so we have space all around,’ says Teun. ‘Fortunately, we had already converted our garage into a multifunctional space with a shower and toilet.’ Carien had her studio there – and the space was also suitable for one of our parents, should that ever be necessary.’
Practical and future-oriented
‘My studio is now at the back of the garden and we sleep in the former garage,’ says Carien. ‘That does mean, however, that we no longer have a workspace in the house, or a space to retreat to for a while. That is why we have applied for a permit for an extension, where we plan to create our bedroom. And then our house will suddenly be suitable for all stages of life – without us having planned it that way beforehand.’
