Family builds 2 homes connected by ‘one long hallway’ to keep aging parents close: The perks and savings a multigen home can offer

“Coming from San Diego, we wanted a slower pace of life in which to raise our [future] kids, and one that was less expensive,” Ochoa told People (2).

Each side of the home has its own kitchen, bathrooms and laundry facilities, so they function independently, unless they choose otherwise. The setup also anticipates something many families avoid thinking about until it becomes urgent: What happens when ageing parents need more support.

The math adds up

A living arrangement like the one Ochoa created is growing across North America. And the numbers suggest it isn’t hard to see why.

In Canada, multigenerational living has become one of the fastest-growing household trends in the country. According to Statistics Canada, as of 2021 there were 441,750 multigenerational households — defined as homes shared by three or more generations of the same family — up 21% from 2001 (3). An estimated 2.4 million Canadians having chosen this particular accommodation (4), and it tends to happen most in areas with higher housing costs.

Nunavut takes the lead, with one in four (24.9%) people living in multigenerational homes to find relief from elevated rental prices that make up about half of all household expenses in tandem with a high cost of living (5).

British Columbia and Ontario lead the provinces for families in multigenerational homes, at 3.7% and 4% respectively. Among individual cities, Brampton, Ontario stands out, with roughly 1 in 7 (14.3%) multigenational households as of 2021 — the highest of any city nationwide. Surrey, B.C. (9.6%) and Markham, ON (9.5%) follow close behind.

The lack of affordable housing across the country is clearly the key driver for this trend. In the first quarter of 2025, the average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $3,170 in Vancouver and $2,690 in Toronto (6). Pooling resources across generations can make the difference between living in those markets, or leaving them.

Benefits extend beyond housing costs

The savings a multigenerational home can generate go well beyond splitting a mortgage or monthly rent.

Child care is one of the most significant. Even with Canada’s ongoing push toward $10-a-day regulated daycare, costs range considerably with the exception of Quebec, which has a heavily subsidized standard daily rate of $9.35 (7). Statistics Canada’s 2025 national child-care survey found that centre-based care for children aged zero to five averaged $435 a month per child for participating licensed care centres — but unsubsidized and home-based options can run considerably higher (8).

In Toronto, families using centres not enrolled in the Canada-wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) system can still pay market rates in line with pre-2022 fees. The City of Toronto’s CWELCC data shows infant care fees were as high as $1,700 a month, with non-enrolled centres having no obligation to lower fees (9).

Having a grandparent available for even part-time care puts significant money back into the family budget. In Ochoa’s case, her mother stepped in to handle household cleaning after Ochoa recovered from the complicated birth of her second child, while her father took on some maintenance tasks that would otherwise have meant money going out to contractor fees.

On the flip side, the bigger long-term calculation focuses on elder care, a consideration for Ochoa as her parents get older. The cost of private retirement homes in Canada vary by province, but seniors can generally expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 a month based on private versus public facilities, amenities and services provided as well as the level of care needed (10). Over a decade, those fees add up to between $300,000 and $720,000 before accounting for inflation. Building an multigenerational living space means an investment in property that holds value and offers a potential return, unlike the fees for a retirement facility.

Additionally, Statistics Canada found that in 2020, only 4.3% of multigenerational households were low income compared to Canadians who lived alone (30.2%), while also being five times lower than the rate for single mother households (22.8%) (11). While the household poverty rate is lower, multigenerational households are more likely to be crowded (28.3% vs. 4.7% for other types). Thus, financial "stability" often comes at the cost of personal space.

There’s also a federal incentive worth considering. In 2023, the Canadian government introduced the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (MHRTC), which allows families to claim 15% of eligible renovation costs up to a maximum of $7,500 when adding a secondary suite for a senior or adult with a disability.

Beyond the finances, there’s what Ochoa described as the best part.

“It’s just amazing having my parents get to grow old with their grandkids, and my sons get to grow up with their grandparents, “ she told Business Insider (12).

When it works and when it doesn’t

Multigenerational living isn’t a universal fit, and Ochoa is the first to acknowledge it.

“People have their own family dynamics, but I do think people who have really great relationships with their families are like, ‘Oh, this is a possibility. This is something I could be thinking about’” (13).

Her advice comes down to communication: “You can’t tiptoe around issues when something comes up. You just have to address it.” She also emphasized the importance of defining household roles for each family member and setting boundaries before construction even begins — something the dual-locking door between the two households reflects in terms of privacy and practicality.

Canadian zoning laws also offer another complex layer. Regulations around secondary suites and garden suites vary significantly by municipality, and some jurisdictions still have restrictions that can complicate having separate living quarters on the same lot.

Cities like Toronto and Ottawa have recently loosened their rules — Toronto with its Garden Suites bylaw in 2022 (14), and Ottawa allows them across most urban residential zones (15) — but setback requirements, lot-size minimums and permit processes still apply.

B.C. introduced broader, small-scale and multi-unit housing legislation in 2023, when Bill 44 required municipalities to update zoning bylaws, making it easier to add secondary suites and laneway homes (16). Alberta completed a blanket rezoning in 2024 that allows secondary suites — including detached backyard suites — in almost every residential neighbourhood, with the city launching its Secondary Suite Incentive Program offering up to $10,000 toward construction costs (17).

And on the east coast, the Halifax Regional Municipality permits secondary and back yard suites in most residential areas without special rezoning required. Although like many other areas, lot size, setback and permit requirements are still part of the process (18).

What to consider before you build

No matter where you reside, if multigenerational living is something you’re considering, here are some things worth considering:

Zoning requirements. Contact your local planning authorities before buying land or drawing up plans. Rules around secondary suites, garden suites, granny flats and laneway houses vary widely across cities and provinces.