Will rising property prices force extended families to live under the same roof?

MAXINE GORDON investigates.

PULL on those denim dungarees and call Jim-Bob in for a steaming plate of grits. It's time to live like the Waltons.

A new report by the Skipton Building Society is predicting that the number of extended families living together in Britain will almost treble in the next 20 years, to levels not seen since Second World War rationing and bomb damage forced several generations to share a home.

Hazel Beattie, of Quantum estate agency in Walmgate, York, said they were already receiving at least two email inquires a week from people looking for a large home to house their extended family.

"There is a high demand for a family home with four bedrooms and perhaps an annexe," she said. "Last year, we found a home for parents in their 50s and their children in their 30s who decided to buy a place together."

While new city centre properties seem to be aimed at young, single high-fliers, many of York's ring road villages such as Bishopthorpe, Strensall and Copmanthorpe have homes big enough for extended families, many with annexes.

"It's a great way to afford to buy a large family property," said Hazel. "People sell two homes and live together in one. It allows them to buy a bigger home."

The report indicates that most of the new breed of extended families will choose to live together for financial as well as familial reasons.

Grandparents hit by pension shortfalls will move in with their grown-up children to save on residential care charges. At the same time, the younger generation will find they can't afford to get on the property ladder and will opt to stay at home instead.

Jon Wright, director at Hunters in Colliergate, York, agreed with Hazel that room for a pony was giving way to room for a granny as a popular selling point.

"We get requests for larger houses with a granny annexe, which can give teenage kids a bit of independence or provide a place for mum and dad to live if they get frail or infirm," he said.

Unfortunately, there is one drawback. There are not enough of these larger properties around to cater for future demand. Builders are starting to build larger houses in the greater York area, but the biggest concentration of effort still appears to be on city centre apartment living aimed at singles and young professionals.

According to Jon, whether we all end up living like the Waltons or Charlie from Roald Dahl's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory with three generations under one roof in the future depends on two factors.

"It very much depends on how property prices and salaries pan out in the future," he said. "If people feel property is affordable - and at the moment people clearly do as there are plenty of people buying - they will buy because they like their independence. If they can't buy, necessity will dictate that they stay at home."

And on that note, there's only one thing left to say: g'night Jon-Boy.

If you are part of an extended family living under one roof, contact Maxine Gordon on 01904 653051 or maxine.gordon@ycp.co.uk

Prices facts

- According to the Halifax House Price Index, property prices in Yorkshire and Humberside are continuing to grow, with a 28.3 per cent increase over the past 12 months.

- Figures show that the average house in York is now worth £182,007, 14 per cent more than last year's £159,085.

- Across the Yorkshire region, the average house price is now £106,421 - breaching the £100,000 barrier for the first time.

- Hazel Beattie, of Walmgate-based Quantum estate agents, said prices in the city were still enjoying a steady rise, with houses under £150,000 being snapped up within days of being put on the market.

Updated: 11:41 Tuesday, May 04, 2004