Moving Your Relatives Out to Australia and In With You

Moving Your Relatives Out to Australia and In With You Due largely to the rise in house prices, there is a growing trend in Australia of extended families living together, with a fifth of people living in multi-generational homes. As well as saving money, living under one roof enables grandparents to help look after the kids, facilitates caring for older family members with health issues, and simply allows for spending more quality time together as a family. This way of living is also a great option if, as an expat, you’ve invited your parents or other older relatives to join you in your new life. As you’ll know from moving yourself, the process can be daunting. For older relatives, this may include applying for a Parent Visa and, if they are coming from the UK, transferring their private or company pension. So, being able to provide accommodation with you for their arrival will make the transition much easier for them.

Building a Granny Flat

Figures from the Department of Home Affairs show that 32% of people migrating to Australia are family members coming to join their expat relatives through family visa streams. Rising house prices and councils being more amenable to properties with secondary dwellings mean that making the most of land around the house is a practical option to make room for an extended family. For elderly relatives who want to retain a certain amount of independence, having a granny flat built in the garden allows them the freedom to come and go as they like while still being close enough to share in day to day family life.

Extending a Warm Welcome

If you have sponsored a carer visa for your elderly relative to immigrate to Australia, they may need to be under the same roof to allow for easier care and supervision. Creating additional space in your home by adding an extension or converting a garage will give your relative their own space while still sharing your home. This is also a good option if you don’t have enough land surrounding your property to construct a separate dwelling.

Moving to a larger property

If you aren’t tied to a certain city or region, there are some areas in Australia where property prices are falling, so investing in a larger property is also a possibility. With more cash to make changes, larger budget structural renovations can create a sizeable home to accommodate the whole family. In the long term, adding extra bathrooms and sitting rooms to match an increased number of bedrooms will also increase the property’s value.

Whether they can’t wait to join you or find the prospect of moving daunting, for elderly relatives making the decision to join you Down Under is huge. Once they’re ready to make the move, preparing a place for them to live comfortably will make the transition easier for them and having them close by will bring benefits for the whole family.