Drawn toward apartment living for affordability and urban amenity, many families are committed to making apartment life work for as long as possible and adopt a range of strategies to do so, however there is only so much that individuals can change. Amidst the challenges and stress of trying to make family life fit into dwellings that are not suitable, families feel excluded from representations of apartment living and many find it difficult to envision apartment living as a long-term option.

This report reveals key challenges that families confront in apartment living and proposes eight detailed opportunities for reform, including greater government involvement in delivering suitable housing, improved policy and design, stronger regulation and compliance with best-practice design, support for retrofitting existing dwellings, and ensuring local neighbourhoods provide family-friendly amenities and infrastructure.