Research on Legal Risks and Protection Mechanisms in Senior Co-Housing Arrangements

Against the backdrop of an increasingly aging population, senior co-housing has become an option chosen by a growing number of elderly people. Thus, this paper examines the legal risks and safeguard mechanisms of senior co-housing. Based on existing literature and relevant legal provisions, it aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the legal risks faced by seniors who choose to co-house and to propose practical safeguard mechanisms suited to Chinas context. Through an investigation of the current realities of senior co-housing in China, the study addresses property issues and examines the underlying causes of legal risks involved. The results demonstrate that by integrating international legislative experience in protecting non-marital cohabitation among the elderly with local practice, it is possible to establish a comprehensive safeguard framework that prioritizes contractual arrangements while providing fallback protection through de facto relationship recognition. Furthermore, the study proposes clarifying the separate property principle, refining the identification of shared assets and the valuation of household labor, and developing specific legal measures to address residence and inheritance issues.