Think you’d better leave right now? Living with mum and dad

It’s an increasingly familiar scenario: grown-up children moving out of rented accommodation and back into the family home as they save for their first property.

For some, the idea of coming together under one roof again conjures the return of family movie nights and getting to know your loved ones afresh. For others, it will be a case of making the best of living in a familial and financial pressure cooker.  

So, what are the ground rules for parents and grown-up children thrown together again, and what are the best ways parents can accelerate the moving out date? 

To live harmoniously, charity Family Lives suggests agreeing upfront that the ‘child’ pays house-keeping or rent. It also advises regular communication, even if just by text, to avoid misunderstandings between parents and children unused to accounting for where they are.