Discover intergenerational shared accommodation!

Imagine a somewhat atypical flatshare in which a senior lives with a young student... Does that seem impossible to you? Yet intergenerational flatsharing is gaining more and more followers, especially in large cities where the amount of rent is soaring. Explanations.

Intergenerational flatmate:the clash of generations

At a time when rents in big cities are constantly increasing, all means are good for students to save some money. At the same time, many older people are isolated and often live in homes with a vacant bedroom. It is in response to these two issues that intergenerational colocation was born. The principle ? An elderly person offers part of their accommodation for free or at a low rate to a student. In return, the young person undertakes to render services to the senior or quite simply helps him to get out of isolation by sharing a few meals, talking from time to time, going for walks or sharing all kinds of activities. .

Intergenerational shared accommodation has advantages for both the elderly person and the young student:

• For the senior :the fact of hosting a young person allows him to get out of loneliness and to have a person who does him some small services such as the preparation of a dish, gardening, shopping, some small DIY jobs, etc.
• For the student :the young person with a restricted budget benefits from housing at low rent and sometimes free of charge. It is also an opportunity to bond with a generation that he may not be used to meeting.

Which contract for this type of rental?

Intergenerational shared accommodation has been regulated since November 2018 by the Elan law. To embark on this adventure, you can sign a "solidarity intergenerational cohabitation contract". The senior and the young are free to define the terms of their contract themselves. It is advisable to be accompanied by an association to draw up this rental contract.

Four tips for a successful cohabitation

To ensure that the young-senior roommate takes place in the best conditions, here are some tips:

• Apply to an association: go through an association to find you either the accommodation or the right profile of the future roommate. Associations such as Ensemble2Générations, the CoSI Network or Pari Solidaire offer links between the elderly and young people. Intergenerational cohabitation associations can also help you draft the rental contract and give you valuable advice for a successful cohabitation.
• Set the rules for everyday life: as soon as you start a roommate with a young person or a senior, the first thing to do is to set certain rules of life. As for a classic flatshare, it is essential to define the conditions of living together (lifestyle, schedules, etc.).
• List services rendered: so that the flatshare goes well, specify before you enter the premises what services you are ready to provide or not (shopping, preparing meals, cleaning, walking, sharing evenings, tinkering, doing gardening, etc.).
• Be open-minded: intergenerational flatsharing is a golden opportunity to date someone you may never have approached. Take advantage of this cohabitation to exchange, share, discuss and learn. You will inevitably come out enriched by this atypical experience.

Get away from roommates between young students or young workers! To save money and live a unique experience, intergenerational shared accommodation seems to be an ideal solution. If you are under 30, take the plunge and embark on this great solidarity adventure.