Condominiums and co-ops also offer more stability than apartment houses. In years past, people moved into apartment houses and stayed for many years; they would start with a small apartment, move to a larger one in the same building as their family grew, and move back into a smaller one when their children had moved out. Today, most people who live in apartments do not stay long. This may be the result of higher rents, or it may be because apartment houses are often maintained with less than stellar reliability. A condominium or co-op offers a stronger sense of community to residents because they are owners; they are less likely to move after only a few years. Also, because they are owners, they will probably assume more responsibility in making sure the common areas are well-maintained.