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In many cultures, multigenerational homes housing three or more family generations in a household are the norm. But with the effects of the recession, high rates of youth unemployment and longer life expectancies for seniors, more Canadians have opted to share one household.
According to Statistic Canada’s 2011 census results, there were 362,600 multigenerational households. The dynamic for these multigenerational households ranged from including a couple with children in 60.1 per cent of the homes, lone parents in 36.5 per cent of the homes and other living situations, which included a couple or lone parents or a middle generation that didn’t include the parents of the grandchildren, in 3.4 per cent of the homes.
If you’ve decided to create a home for everyone, it’s important to work towards accommodating everyone’s needs.
In some cases, households might opt to add a new addition with a separate entrance to the home to provide some privacy. But before doing so, it’s important to gather the necessary development permits to ensure that any work you do has been approved according to city bylaws.
If you’ve planned to live in a multigenerational home before you go house shopping, there are homes built as flexible housing or Flexhousing. These homes are built in a way that makes it easy for homeowners to make changes in the space for senior living through wider hallways and doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, reinforced stairway walls for future stairlift installation and reinforced plywood on bathroom walls to allow easy installation of grab bars. Also, builders can install wiring and plumbing and insulated ceilings into attics that gives homeowners an easier time in converting the space into another living area.
If you’re in the process of rebuilding your home, a builder can help you accommodate future home use through placing windows in a way that lets the space be partitioned into two separate rooms, as well as install enough light switches, electrical outlets and closet space in the space.
If you’re cringing at the potentially high price tag, the CRA’s HST rebate can help out with some of the costs, if you’ve substantially renovated your property. Also, there are housing rebates and credits to help you offset the cost and you could borrow money from a construction loan.
Save money on your home renovations with help from Rebate4U, who will ensure a smooth transaction. Our priority is to provide our clients with the most professional and quality service in obtaining rebates for their new and renovated homes. We are proud to offer our clients the most personal and attentive service, and we make sure that all of our clients are 100% satisfied.