COVID-19 prompts one in six Aussies to change living arrangements

PHOTO: About one in six Australians have changed their living arrangements due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: iStock

About one in six Australians have changed their living arrangements due to the coronavirus pandemic, a new survey shows.

Australians are moving home to their parents, taking on additional housemates, delaying plans to move and even selling up – in a small number of cases – amid COVID-19, according to the St. George Bank Property Monitor, released on Tuesday.

Of the more than 1000 Australians surveyed in early April, about 16 per cent had already changed their living arrangements due to COVID-19. Some 12 per cent had made an active change – having moved home or had others move in with them. Another 3 per cent had delayed plans to move, and the remaining 1 per cent had made other unspecified changes.

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St. George Bank general manager Ross Miller said the economic impact of COVID-19 was making many Australians revise their living situation.

“The most impacted were singles, who had made the decision to move back home with their parents, or delay moving out. This seems to complement the ‘stay at home’ environment that we are in, where families are clearly delaying big moving decisions,” Mr Miller said.

HOW HAVE YOUR LIVING ARRANGEMENTS CHANGED DUE TO COVID-19?
I’m having to delay moving out/moving on	3%
I have moved back with parents or delayed moving out	3%
I’ve moved in with my partner	2%
I’ve moved into shared living arrangements	2%
Family/children have moved back in with me	2%
I’ve moved to a smaller rental property	1%
I’ve taken on housemates/flatmates	1%
I’ve had to sell my house/apartment	1%
Other (please specify)	1%
Any Change	16%
Source: St. George Bank Property Monitor