TV property guru Phil Spencer is urging lettings agents to prepare for a surge in the number of older tenants and landlords.

Lettings agency Hamptons recently forecast that the number of English rental households aged 65 and above will double by 2030. Today there are some 400,000 older households (over 65s) renting and this figure will pass 1m in 2033.

In his column for our sister publication Estate Agent Today, Spencer makes a number of suggestions for agents to prepare for this demographic change. 

These include: 

– all legal and contractual paperwork could have large print versions; 

– ensure details say whether properties have age-related modifications; 

– introducing the option of home visits to update older landlords on viewer feedback;

– offer more clarity over fees – already a requirement but more up-front info;

– being ‘Age Friendly’ and  encouraging older people to drop in to offices;

– creating a  ‘Granddaughter Service’ working more slowly and sensitively with older clients.

You can read Spencer’s full EAT article here.