Can you live at home in harmony with your parents? Picture: Kate Griffin

Mounting concern about housing affordability in Australia has seen the rise of a new term: Cubby House Syndrome.

Coined by research company CoreLogic, it’s the name given to the trend of parents trying to create independent living arrangements for their adult children within their own property.

It’s a trend that’s on the rise, with research by the company finding that two-thirds of young people living at home cannot afford to move out, while more than 20% of people aged 18 and over are expecting to live with their parents until they are at least 30.

Moving back in with (or continuing to live with) your Mum and Dad can be a fraught experience.

Here are some top tips for making it work – so you don’t literally end up in the backyard cubby house.

1. Be their IT help desk

Let’s face it – baby boomers aren’t always the most proficient users of technology. If you can help them out with logging them into Facebook, setting them up with Foxtel Play or fixing their iPad, you’ll be their new best friend.

2. Guide their TV viewing

Parents can be very particular about their favourite TV shows. But unless you want to be parked in front of the TV watching a few episodes of Midsomer Murders, Judge John Deed or Escape to the Country, you should give them a few hints on trying some more zeitgeisty TV shows.

Warning: While a Breaking Bad or Sopranos marathon might make for great family viewing, it might be best to steer clear of Girls, Broad City or Game of Thrones. Things could get quite uncomfortable.

It’s important to make yourself useful. Picture: Kate Griffin

3. Come to an agreement on money – and stick to it

Different families will have different expectations about the financial arrangements when it comes to moving back into the family home.

Most would choose charging ‘board’, where a flat payment each week covers food, utilities and anything else provided. If you’re lucky enough to get a roof over your head ‘ex gratia’, then take serious note of the next tip.

4. Surprise them with good stuff

Everyone loves a gesture of love and appreciation. Your parents are no exception. Even if you are paying board or rent, chances are you’re on a pretty great deal living at Chez Parent.

Make sure you show your folks some love with a nice little surprise every now and then – a dinner out at their favourite restaurant, a nice bottle of wine, a bunch of flowers or a movie ticket.

5. Lift your weight. Seriously

There’s nothing sadder than a 27-year-old who doesn’t do their own washing, pick up after themselves or know how to knock up a spaghetti bolognese.

Make sure you’re contributing to household chores, whether it’s doing the washing, mowing the lawns or stacking the dishwasher.

6. Share something

Make an effort to spend some time with your folks. Your relationship with them will be very different to when you were a teenager, so it’s a good idea to get to know them as an adult, not just your Mum or Dad.

Find something you like to do together – it might be going for a pre-breakfast walk, working on the veggie garden together or sharing an addiction to Gogglebox.

7. Give them an end date

Is moving back to the family home going to be a short-term arrangement, and if so, how long will it be? Are you moving back in to save for a house?

If this is the case, make sure that you set down a firm timeline of how long you’ll need to live there.

This will avoid an uncomfortable ‘when are you going to move out?’ conversation that all of you will dread.