Intergenerational homesharing in Algeria: family tradition and new needs

Family first, by a wide margin

Research from the University of Béjaïa, drawing on the 2002 national family health survey, found that only 1.8 per cent of older Algerians lived alone, rising to 3 per cent among women. Around 98 per cent of the help they received at home came from relatives.

Women carry most of that load. Children provided nearly 70 per cent of the support given to older women, and close to 73 per cent of older men needing help were assisted almost exclusively by a woman, usually a wife, daughter or daughter-in-law.

How many older Algerians are there?

According to national statistics office figures reported by TSA in October 2024, people aged 60 or over make up 10.5 per cent of the population, roughly five million people, with more than two million already aged 70 or over.

Fewer births and a strained pension system

Fewer than 900,000 births were recorded in 2023, and the national pensions fund counts just three contributors for every pensioner. Researcher Saliha Ouadah, quoted by TSA, describes the ageing trend as irreversible, with older people set to outnumber the young around 2040.

Older projections still worth noting

Statistics office projections cited in the Béjaïa study expected 14.7 per cent of the population to be over 60 by 2030 and more than 22 per cent by 2050. They date from the early 2000s and need caution, yet the direction is unmistakable.

Why no matching scheme has taken root

No public or charitable homesharing programme has been identified. Bringing an unrelated young adult into the home conflicts with strong expectations of family privacy, and in many households a son or daughter living nearby makes the idea seem unnecessary.

Urban change is shifting the picture

In Algiers, Oran and Constantine, young couples increasingly set up their own homes, flats are smaller and emigration separates parents from children. Some widows and older couples now live alone in apartments that once housed six or eight people across three generations.

Where students live

Public university residences run by the national university services office house many students studying far from their home province. When a place is unavailable or unsuitable, renting a room from a private owner near the faculty is the most common fallback.

Leases and tax

Letting is governed by the Civil Code. A dated written lease describing the room, shared areas, rent, duration and notice protects the older owner and the student alike, and makes any disagreement far easier to resolve calmly.

Rental income is in principle taxable. Whether a modest room let must be declared, and how, should be checked with the local tax inspectorate before signing, rather than assumed from neighbours' experience or outdated online forums.

Bringing the children on board

The consent of adult children is often the social precondition. Introducing the student, sharing proof of enrolment and agreeing rules together reassures relatives and gives them a natural reason to drop by and see how things are going.

Building a sound private arrangement

1. Agree with the older person what they expect: company, shopping, night-time presence, never care tasks.
2. Look for candidates through the university, the local mosque, neighbours or extended family.
3. Check identity papers, enrolment and one recommendation.
4. Hold a first meeting with the older person, the student and a relative.
5. Write a lease with moderate rent, notice and house rules.
6. Plan a monthly check-in during the first months.

This borrows the backbone of structured schemes abroad, namely screening, a contract and follow-up, without claiming to replace them. It suits university towns where public residences cannot meet every student's needs.

Mistakes that cause trouble

• Relying on a verbal promise with no lease.
• Confusing companionship with medical care.
• Presenting the children with a fait accompli.
• Trusting adverts for an official programme that cannot be traced.
• Ignoring the tax side of rent received.
• Leaving Ramadan and religious holidays out of the house rules.

Religious rhythms shape daily life, from meal times to evening gatherings and family visits. Writing them into the agreement prevents either the student or the host from feeling that their routines are being disrupted.

Opportunities for the diaspora

Algerian students in France can use the French solidarity-based intergenerational cohabitation scheme, backed by legislation since 2018. Those heading to Canada will find programmes such as Canada HomeShare and platforms such as SpacesShared or Happipad, all with screening and written agreements.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address the questions most often asked by Algerian families, students from other provinces looking for a room near their faculty, and members of the diaspora worried about a parent living alone in the family home.

Does the state subsidise hosting a student in Algeria?

No subsidy dedicated to an older person hosting a student has been identified. Public effort concentrates on university residences, grants and pensions, with no specific strand for shared housing between generations.

What rent is appropriate?

No official scale exists. Rent for a room in an older person's home, offered in return for presence and small services, is set by mutual agreement and generally sits below what students pay for an ordinary rented room.

Can a female student live with an older couple?

Yes, this is one of the more readily accepted arrangements, provided the family is informed and the lease clearly defines the student's private space, her hours and whether she may receive visitors.

How should the arrangement end?

By respecting the notice in the lease and announcing the decision early. A conversation with a relative present and a joint check of the room on departure usually prevent any dispute.