As more seniors find themselves in larger homes after children move out, the housing market faces unique challenges. The Jacobs family, seeking a smaller living space, struggles with financial constraints while searching for a new apartment. Experts suggest that instead of moving, seniors could repurpose their homes into additional living units, potentially creating millions of new spaces. Successful examples exist, yet many, like the Jacobs, face obstacles that hinder timely downsizing, highlighting the need for supportive housing initiatives.
As children leave the nest, many seniors find themselves with extra living space, presenting a remarkable opportunity for the housing market, according to experts. Yet, navigating this transition can be fraught with challenges.
Once a bustling family of four, the Jacobs family enjoyed life in their townhouse in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony. However, with their children long gone, Elisabeth and Klaus Jacobs now reside alone in 130 square meters. While they manage to creatively utilize their spacious home, they yearn for a more compact living arrangement.
Aging brings added complexity to home maintenance. Cleaning, garden upkeep, and managing repairs consume valuable time and energy. Additionally, heating costs become a concern as Klaus notes, ‘The need for warmth increases.’ With the couple only utilizing a few rooms during winter, relocating to a smaller apartment feels like the ideal solution.
The Jacobs also reflect on the future: by reducing their living space, they can ease the burden for their children when it comes time to sort through their belongings. Moreover, they hope to make their surplus living space available to younger families who would benefit from it, as their townhouse was originally designed for such households back in the 1970s.
Elisabeth and Klaus Jacobs in their cozy living room.
Challenges of Finding Affordable Housing
The Jacobs have been on the hunt for a new apartment for three years now. Like many seniors, they desire a location close to their current home. The couple cherishes the greenery of their neighborhood, the proximity to recreational areas, and the reliable bus services. Living nearby would allow them to continue shopping at their favorite local stores and maintain connections with friends and neighbors.
They even explored a newly constructed building just a few hundred meters from their current residence, which offers barrier-free access via an elevator. They envisioned moving into an 80 square meter condominium there.
However, financial constraints stand in their way. They estimate that selling their home would only cover about half the cost of the new apartment. ‘And securing a loan at our age would be costly,’ Klaus emphasizes. This financial imbalance represents a significant obstacle for many seniors considering a move.
‘Not our dream house design,’ but conveniently located: the Jacobs’ ideal apartment.
Unlocking Potential Living Spaces
Housing expert Daniel Fuhrhop suggests an alternative approach: instead of relocating, seniors can create additional living space within their current homes by transforming areas into separate apartments. This ‘housing transition economist’ sees immense potential in this strategy, having focused his doctoral research on the topic.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, approximately eleven million residents in Germany occupy far more space than they require. This presents the potential for creating 20 million new living spaces without new construction. If just a fraction of homeowners opted for this approach, it could yield more living space than several years of new builds, especially considering current construction slowdowns.
To facilitate this process, municipal support and guidance for property owners are crucial. Fuhrhop notes significant interest from individuals looking to downsize or repurpose their homes, yet many feel overwhelmed and unsupported in taking these steps.
While property purchase prices remain stable, rental costs continue to escalate, exacerbating the housing crisis.
Successful Renovation Example
The Leufker couple from Osnabrück successfully embraced this concept by renovating their two-family house. They transformed the upper two floors into a separate apartment, with Heinz Leufker installing a partition wall and new doors in the entrance area.
Their efforts paid off when a young teacher moved into the newly created space, significantly shortening her apartment search. Both parties benefit from this arrangement, enjoying a supportive relationship filled with camaraderie, as Gabi Leufker states, ‘We genuinely like each other.’
The city of Osnabrück incentivizes such renovations of underutilized space with grants of up to 7,500 euros. Interest in these programs has surged after a period of neglect, according to local housing authorities.
Heinz Leufker, a retired architect, designed the new entrance to the apartment.
Timeliness is Key
For the Jacobs, however, a renovation is not feasible due to the limitations of their townhouse, which lacks sufficient space for a second bathroom. Consequently, they have opted to join a waiting list for a rental unit with a housing cooperative.
At ages 66 and 65, the Jacobs are proactively addressing their housing situation. They, like the Leufkers, believe that seniors should not delay the decision to downsize. The older one becomes, the more challenging it can be to adapt to change.