To think 4 people can't fit in 2 bed house

[BananaCakePie]

The title explains it all really.

Teenage son in one room,mother,grandmother and teenage daughter sharing a room.

Well they can and frequently do but not in that combination

Do any of them have an alternative?

They will if they have to, obviously.

Depends how big the rooms are, and how permanent / temporary it is.

Teenage son on sofabed downstairs. Grandmother in one bedroom. Mother and teenage daughter in another on double bunkbeds.

Of course they can. people do this all the time. Short term and Long term. People just do what they have to and get on with it.

4 people can if they are a couple and their two small children (or even older children if the same sex).

However no, grandmother, mother, teenage son and teenage daughter don't work in two bedrooms - how many rooms are there downstairs? Can one downstairs room be a bedroom? If so it would work for parent and teens, but why does grandma live with you? If she needs care the housing situation might help prioritising her for a care home?

I grew up in a two bed house, perfectly fine. However, mum and dad in room 1 and two sisters in room 2, the combination above makes it harder but people cut their cloth accordingly, don't they?

Assuming teenagers are siblings then bunk beds are fine. Change clothes in the bathroom. Girl on the bottom bunk so easier to get to bathroom when on period.

I know a family with 4 kids in a 2 bed. I know a family with 3 kids in a 2 bed. These are working people in the UK, albeit not on high incomes. I think the generational thing is interesting in the mix, and it could be really wonderful. What's your problem with it? And is it any of your business?

It's certainly not ideal.

I think I'd be inclined to let teenage son and daughter have their own rooms and then sofa beds for the adults downstairs.

Of course they can fit. It might not be ideal, but it's just a bedroom.

Ofcourse they can, not ideal in that situation. Who are you talking about?

Well in that situation, the sitting room or dining room must be given over as a bedroom. It's far from ideal though. Why are they in this situation? Is it a council flat or something and they can't get a swap?

SIL asked for my opinion. She can't afford rent for the 3 bed property they live in,not entitled to any housing benefits.

Only one living room downstairs,both bedrooms are double bedrooms. There is a patio just before the garden,not sure how big it is.

The plan is long term until the teenagers are old enough to move out for uni/college accommodation.

Teens would be the ones to share. Potentially granny one bedroom, mum on the sofa, teens share. Children would be last in line for privacy, they are home for what, another couple of years? Sometimes teens have to share, same sex or not. 3 women in one room and lone male in another would send really weird signals. Is he so much more worthy of his own space? Too dangerous to share? The crown prince whereas the girl is the spare?

Sounds like a hellish arrangement with no privacy for anyone.

curtains on the bunk beds, it's an old idea that has been revamped via Pinterest.

If there is one big room make that the bedroom, all sleep in there. Gma on a bottom bunk

Of course they can. We have 4 people in a one bed flat.

I would have:
Both teenagers sharing
Mother and grandmother sharing

The whole teenagers can't share is different sex thing is silly. Almost all other countries manage. They will have to just be considerate, and can use bathroom to change in if an issue.

Divide the two double rooms using curtain poles and fabric? Or screens?
It's not ideal, but it could work to give everyone a bit more privacy and their own space.

I'd give the teens a room each and adults downstairs on sofa beds - I do think teens need privacy.

However I'd hate this - whether I was grab, mum or teen... I know more people used to live like this and do in poor countries even know, but it would be very hard to go "backwards" to after having previously had more space and privacy.

I do think teens need space.

Do either mum or gran snore?

Making the teen girl share a room permanently with mum and gran sounds like a good way to push her to move out asap...

*gran not grab

I don't think "almost all" other countries do manage - it is not a normal setup anywhere in Europe. People manage this kind of set up only when poverty means they have no option. It's totally different for a couple to share with their own small children than for grandparent, parent and teens to share.

We lived with my gran in a 2 bed when I was a teenager, my dad shared with my brother and my mum shared with me and my gran. So it can work. We had a bunk bed for me and my mum, and my gran had a single bed. My gran only had to live with us for a year though - she went on the council waiting list and got a 1 bed flat nearby as she was considered overcrowded and to require her own household. She got housing benefits in her own name so it actually worked out not much more expensive than living with us.

There are 4 of us in a 2 bed flat. But my dcs are both boys and only 4/7. However I can see us having them sharing as teens. Bedrooms each is probably a luxury we will never afford, but less hoovering!

Could you use wardrobes/shelf units as temporary dividers?

Sounds grim. Teenagers would have to share until they left home/go to uni.
I grew up in an overpopulated too small house, while it's not fun we all left home at a young age and got on with our independent lives.