We launched a new campaign recently to challenge common misconceptions surrounding annexe construction, including concerns around cost and planning permission, as appetite for multi-generational living grows.
The data, collected from 1,000 UK residents, shows that 4 in 10 UK residents think annexe construction would be too expensive for them, while nearly half (48%) worry about planning permission.
This is despite nearly one in three (29%) now favouring multi-generational living, either through the construction of an annexe or conversion of existing space in the home, as their preferred option for caring for elderly relatives.
By contrast, just 16% favour moving mum or dad into a care home, illustrating Britain’s changing preferences for care following the recent covid pandemic and in the midst of an ongoing cost of living crisis.
The notion of multi-generational living and its growing popularity is supported by data published by Aviva, which shows that one in three UK homes are now multigenerational, equating to 9 million total households.
In response to the findings, we’re campaigning to change perceptions around cost and planning difficulties stereotypically associated with annexe construction and aiming to break down the hurdles preventing families from staying close to mum and dad in later years.
CEO Trevor Smeaton said: “In cash terms, the average weekly cost of providing care to adults has risen to £1,399, which is why iHus’s work to promote independent, cost-effective living has become ever more important.
“We note the growing trend towards multi-generational living and annexe construction as a means of providing care for elderly relatives, but misconceptions around the cost and difficulty of building an annexe endure.
“We’ve seen first-hand how granny annexes add value to homes, while providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional care solutions, which, our data also shows, Brits are increasingly turning away from.
“Planning permission need not be an obstacle either; a good annexe building partner will manage all these considerations on the customer’s behalf, and the delays associated with this process are generally minimal, meaning that building process can begin swiftly.
“We believe that granny annexes can empower families to live an exciting new chapter in their lives, together, and it seems that a growing number of people share that vision.”
