Buying a home for the future? Choose ‘annexe generation’ property
A recent poll from insurance giants Aviva suggests that almost 36 million people in the UK, over half, have experienced living as adults in the same home as another generation of their family. And for 3 million of them, the stint lasted as long as a decade.
Cross-generation households are becoming an ever more prominent feature of modern life in the UK due to a variety of reasons and increasingly economic ones due to the recession.
Many are students who cannot afford the hefty university and housing fees so are staying at home after leaving school. The elderly are another sizeable demographic involved in cross-generational living with the Aviva data suggesting that almost a fifth of the older generation are being offered accommodation in their offspring’s homes thereby offsetting vastly expensive care home costs.
Louise Colley, Head of Protection Sales and Marketing at Aviva, comments,
“Almost 20% of intergenerational living is due to families welcoming the older generation into their homes. With a rapidly ageing population, this is likely to become more common in the future and families may need to take this into consideration when purchasing and renovating their properties.”
So with the future needs of our families, our parents, children and even grandchildren in mind, are properties with annexes the solution?
Properties with annexes, be they connected or within the grounds of a home, despite their growing popularity are not easy to come by. In the family friendly Home County of Buckinghamshire for example, Zoopla data reveals that less than 3% of properties afford annexe accommodation.
Hambledon House on Harvest Hill however, a newly built country mansion in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire is one such property complete with annexe. Developed by award-wining house builder Millgate, this glorious detached house sits on an elevated position with fabulous views over the Thames Estuary to the Chilterns and has an annexe with its own entrance, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
The main house offers five bedrooms, five bathrooms and is a dream family home. Substantial living space which is set over three floors includes four reception rooms and a vast kitchen / breakfast room which will clearly be the hub of the house.
Drawing upon their 25 years of house building experience, Millgate homes frequently feature annexes for a variety of reasons:
Office Space: Paying a rent to run a small business is a very unnecessary overhead for many so what better than to have your office at home yet tucked away from family life? Somewhere you can shut the door and walk away from at night. The 45 sqm of space at Hambledon House is plenty big enough to accommodate you and a business partner.
Granny Annexe: A modern day concern is where and how to look after your aging parents and in-laws. There might not be room for 4 of them at the annexe of Hambledon House – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sleeping conditions are somewhat archaic for 2012 – however there is ample room for 2 and if needs must, a stair lift on the outside is possible.
Teenage Hangout: This annexe could be the ultimate solution for a teenager taking a gap year or one living at home whilst going to university. Imagine the bliss of not having to get annoyed by the fact your slovenly teenager is still in bed at lunch time and not being woken up at 3am when he or she brings some mates back for an after party.
Guest Suite: Designed to give your guests some real privacy whilst maintaining your own. Having friends to stay for a few days would be so easy with a separate access guest suite.
Bed and Breakfast: Not everyone’s idea of fun but this annexe really would be perfect for the odd paying guest – or perhaps even a paying overseas student when you need to make ends meet.
Au-Pair/Nanny: A perfect solution for many families – imagine the enjoyment for both your family and your ‘help’ to have a separate living area and privacy. This way you can maintain the family life that you always wanted and still have the luxury of some help just a few yards away.
Jonathan Cranley, Sales and Marketing Director at Millgate describes the reaction buyers are having to this extra space in Hambledon House:
“All our visitors are seeing the fabulous potential that this extra space incorporates into this property. Modern families have such a diverse range of needs – often blended families need extra space – having step-children and step-parents and all sorts needing a bed now and again!”
Hambledon House is priced at £2,800.000. For more information on this house contact Millgate on 0118 934 3344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk