More private rented accommodation should be made purposely available to older people.
The call has come from ARLA member Peter Girling, who is chairman of Girling Retirement Rentals, in the wake of a Shelter report, ‘A better fit: creating housing choice for an ageing population’.
Girling said: “We share Shelter’s concerns about the acute shortage of appropriate housing to meet the needs of older people in the UK – from the baby boomers to the over-85s.
“Housing for older people in the UK is simply not being planned, built or thought through. It is a travesty and will lead to long-term social problems and a government-induced crisis.”
He said that by 2030, one in three people in the UK will be over 55 – and as things stand, the supply of appropriate housing to accommodate this ageing population needs to rise by over 70% in the next 20 years.
Girling said there is very little mid-range housing available to rent privately or buy and a huge shortage of bungalows for people with mobility issues.
He added that while many people are living alone in large houses, which could release much-needed family housing stock, it is unrealistic for the Government to think people will downsize without incentives like tax breaks and with so little choice of alternative housing available.
Girling said: “We have seen inquiries for our retirement rental properties rise by 13%.
“We also offer a range of different options available, enabling people to choose whether they want to rent on lifetime tenancies, assured shorthold tenancies or buy their property. Everyone is different and we try to cater to their needs.”
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Comments
The overall standard of dwelling design in this country is absolutely woeful, paying no heed whatsoever to the needs and desires of the anticipated occupants. This is quite shameful with talented interior designers and architects abounding with good ideas that are value for money and also lovely to live in.
As to the over 55's, which is not old at that end BTW, it is the same pathetic offerings over and over. When one's children have grown up and one wants to downsize, that does NOT mean 'one tiny living room and minute kitchen'. It means fewer bedrooms, perhaps one large main bedroom with ensuite and a couple of smaller rooms for multiple use, and at least one decently sized living room, so that daily living is not miserably cramped and visitors are easily accomodated.
I am looking for a smaller place for my 81 year old Mother to move to, and quite frankly most of them are shoe boxes that I wouldn't put my worst enemy in. The buildings are built with no regard to sunshine, the outlooks are often dire, the rooms are badly designed with doors and radiators in such positions that placing furniture nicely is virtually impossible. Why would she want to move from her home to a hovel?
Lots of comments when the "plight" of FTB's is ever mentioned but nothing at all if it's the over 55's.
Strange or what!