Popular in the news at the moment? A means to afford ever more expensive homes when marriage and sharing doesn’t seem the answer to the problem. Here are two North American stories that feature folks attempting to tackle the issue in ‘non-traditional’ ways.
An American story From Axios: Why more people are buying houses with their friends
. . . and a Canadian one from the CBC: How the ‘tax’ on singles has people who live alone feeling the pinch
Tackling a similar issue in Europe, what follows is an intriguing undertaking to ease the crisis for some by making the legal system more responsive to the needs of folks who are looking to share housing.
Germany is introducing verantwortungsgemeinschaften, which may prove extraordinarily useful for many home buyers and renters.
It’s all about NOT getting married. Germany has no intention of getting rid of that age-old and successful social framework. But these days, there is a growing awareness that marriage doesn’t suit everyone.
Unfortunately, the evolution of marriage has created discriminatory legal systems that protect those who accept its blessings, but not so much those who would rather avoid, or have no particular access to, its preconditions and commitments.
Legal benefits frame the creation and dissolution of marriage partnerships. For those willing and/or able to take advantage of marriage legalities, they generally offer more housing security than simple business arrangements1.
Germany’s verantwortungsgemeinschaften looks to extend the benefits that protect partnerships in marriage to those who may choose to share living arrangements, but do not wish to go the ‘whole hog’ into a relationship defined by marriage.
Read more about verantwortungsgemeinschaften in TheMayor.eu: Germany plans to introduce an alternative to family-type partnerships
