Coresidential

Coresidential refers to living arrangements in which two or more households occupy or share a single dwelling or live in close proximity with shared facilities. The term encompasses formal arrangements such as co-housing as well as informal setups like multigenerational households where relatives live under one roof. In some contexts coresidence also describes long-term shared housing arrangements where unrelated individuals reside together and share common spaces.

Common forms include multigenerational households, where parents, children, and grandparents cohabit; co-housing communities featuring private living units plus extensive shared kitchens, lounges, and gardens; and general shared housing in which individuals or families rent rooms or occupy separate units within a single building. Coresidential arrangements can range from legally independent units within a single property to large, purpose-built communities.

Drivers include housing affordability, aging in place, childcare needs, cultural expectations, and urban population density. Economic considerations, such as shared utilities and maintenance, can appeal to households facing high housing costs. Socially, coresidence can provide practical support networks and extended family ties, though it can also pose challenges around privacy, governance, and conflict resolution.

Design and policy considerations focus on privacy, acoustics, accessibility, and shared governance structures; planners may integrate flexible unit layouts and common areas to support interaction while preserving individual autonomy. Rates and patterns of coresidence are studied by demographers and sociologists and vary across cultures and over time.

See also: multigenerational home, co-housing, shared housing, family sociology.