How long do rabbits live?

Question
We have some pet rabbits, which we have set up in cages in a shed with the doors open to keep the rain off them.  My husband is thinking about building them a different shelter that is more open, but with a roof, and which can be covered more if it is cold or really windy.  He said this will be expensive.  I just wondered if it would be worth doing.  They seem to be doing well where they are and I am afraid he will build this then they won't even live long after that.  We have a pet New Zealand White of undetermined age (over 3 1/2 years since we received her), a Netherland Dwarf at least 4 1/2 years old, a Jersey Wooly about the same age, and a French Lop that is 2 years old.  My daughters used to show them for 4-H, but now they are enjoyed as pets.  We have a book about showing and breeding rabbits and a set of encyclopedias, but these don't tell about rabbit longevity.  I would appreciate any help you can give.  I don't want to go further in debt in vain.  Thanks!

Answer
Rabbits can live to be 8-12 years old.  But rabbit life spans do vary on the genetics of the rabbit and it's environment.  Most resources state that outdoor rabbits don't live as long as house rabbits.  Since I've never had my rabbit outdoors, I don't have personal experience to better gauge life span in outdoors rabbits.

If the rabbits are safe and enclosed where they are, you may not really need to build a new enclosure.  But it is quite possible that your rabbits could still live many years, especially since one is only 2 years old.