Kangaroo houses refer to a solution in which two dwellings are connected but contain two completely separate living units, or one dwelling divided into several dwellings. This solution often meets the needs of families and allows, for example, several generations to live together while maintaining a high level of independence and privacy.
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By cohousing, we understand a community of individual housing grouped around common spaces such as a kitchen, a dining room, a garden, etc. The objective of cohousing is to promote community living and social interactions.
“The (co)owners of 2024 report that they are significantly more likely to participate in forms of cohabitation than the (co)owners of 2017”notes Caroline Beauvois, spokesperson for Crelan, quoted in the press release sent by the financial group. “Cohabitation with other family members is in particular on the rise. This trend is undoubtedly another of the effects of the Covid crisis and is also explained by the increase in property prices.”
Cohabitation with family or friends increases
While in 2017 around 8% of those surveyed reported cohabiting with other family members, this figure doubled in 2024, a similar trend is observed regarding cohabitation with friends, which increases from 5% to 10% .
Other forms of cohabitation
Other forms of cohabitation, such as sharing a garden, laundry room, garage, living room or kitchen, are slightly less widespread, but are also experiencing a clear upward trend , going from an average of 5 to 9% to an average of 12 to 14%.
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Kangaroo houses
Kangaroo houses also follow this upward trend in 2024, increasing from 5% to 12%.
“These increases in cohabitation options are primarily driven by two groups, continues Caroline Beauvois, young adults and residents of the Brussels metropolitan area. For young adults, this is a solution allowing them to obtain additional financial resources, in the same way as living at home longer to save money or obtaining help from their parents in order to be able to acquire their own home. In Brussels, the trend was already stronger than in other regions in 2017 and it is clearly on the rise in 2024. City life: higher prices, smaller surface areas, more limited garden options… certainly explain this craze for cohabitation”, concludes Crelan’s spokesperson.
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