Housing For Ageing Population At ‘Crisis Point’

A lack of action in working to meet the market needs of an ageing population was the view shared by many of those in attendance at HOMES UK 2019. Addressing delegates on the conference’s second day, Lord Best said that although we are currently living in crisis, “the worst is yet to come.” Lord Best cited figures showing that 75% of over 65’s are home owners – but said that the number is decreasing to figures of 63%. A Parliamentary inquiry estimated that more than one million low cost rented homes will be needed to adequately house older people by the late 2040s – an average of 38,000 homes a year. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/housing-for-ageing-population-at-crisis-point/

Housing Policy ‘Failing To Recognise‘ Complex Society

A reality of “simplistic” policy in a complex society is one of the main arguments that the UK is institutionally ageist, the Housing 21 conference heard. The University of Sheffield’s Professor David Robinson told delegates in Birmingham that present housing policy is not fit for purpose and “needs to be challenged”. For Peabody’s Brendan Sarsfield, it’s the overall focus of local authorities on a single issue, rather than a holistic approach that is the biggest problem faced by an ageing population. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/housing-policy-failing-to-recognise-complex-society/

Why Retirement Living Needs More Innovative Investment

An ageing population is causing a serious supply and demand deficit in UK retirement housing. But investors need better access to the sector. The proportion of over-65s is set to rise to 20.7 percent of the UK population by 2027, up from 18.2 percent in 2017, according to the UK government. At the same time, ARCO, the housing with care industry body, has set a target of 250,000 over 65s living in housing with care facilities by 2030. Based on this growth target, over 11,000 housing with care units would need to be built each year to meet demand up to 2026 – but over the last decade an average of only 3,220 units a year have been built, according to data from JLL. Read more on The Investor website.

https://www.theinvestor.jll/news/uk/alternatives/why-retirement-living-investment-needs-to-get-more-innovative/

Why Industry Should Back Accessible Homes

The Home Builders Federation is discouraging councils from building inclusive housing. The Federation has advised at least 17 local authorities against setting mandatory targets for more accessible housing in new local planning policies, suggesting they could dent profits. It has also questioned whether predictions of an ageing population will mean there will be an increased demand for inclusive housing. This advice not only undermines planning aimed at mitigating the effects of profound demographic change that are expected to take over the next decade. It also denies the realities of today’s housing market. Only 7% of English homes achieve a basic level of accessibility. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/opinion/why-industry-should-back-accessible-homes/

Report Calls For Improvements In Housing For Older People

A new Policy Exchange report reveals recommendations on improving the housing market for an ageing population. With housing continuing to race up the political agenda, a focus on young people’s experience of the housing market is often overlooked, the report finds. Compared to that of 11.9 million in 2016, projected numbers of 17.7 million living aged 65 and over will be seeking greater housing demands from the government, with a focus on providing better quality homes to improve people’s quality of life. The report further states that retirement housing needs to be a more desirable option and private providers should acknowledge the gap in the market for attractive retirement living. Download the report, Building for the Baby Boomers, from the Policy Exchange website.

https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/building-for-the-baby-boomers/

Families In Rural Areas Are Spending Nearly A Third Of Their Income On Rent

Families in rural areas are spending nearly a third of their income on rent, research by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) has revealed. In a report to mark Rural Housing Week the IPPR found there is an affordability “crisis” in rural areas where the average house price is £320,700, more than £87,000 higher than the urban average outside of London. The IPPR analysis also found the population in rural areas is set to age rapidly over the next two decades. Between 2014 and 2038, the working-age population in rural areas is projected to decline by 75,000 people while the population aged over 65 will grow by around 1.5 million. Read more on the IPPR website.

https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/a-new-rural-settlement

Retirement Home Shortage Worry For The UK

0.6% of housing in the UK is private retirement housing – a number that needs significantly improving for an ageing population. Analysis from Knight Frank shows the demand from older people is far higher than the current stock levels. The number of homes classed as retirement housing, which ranges from care homes to age-restricted developments, counts for 2.6% of stock but only 0.6% of these are private retirement housing. Estimated build for new units in 2016 is thought to be at 5,500 – adding to the 715,000 current stock – which accounts for around 3% of delivery. There are already 7.8 million people over the age of 65 or 18% of the population and 12% over 70. Read more on 24housing.

Why Has Britain Stopped Building Bungalows?

The number of bungalows being built in the UK has collapsed, despite an ageing population. Why? It's the building that's symbolised a quieter, gentler way of life for more than a century. Bungalows are sold as a dream for those approaching retirement, wanting to do without the hassle of having to climb stairs. They also provide easy access for wheelchair users and those unsteady on their feet.

With the UK's population ageing, demand for single-storey homes is likely to grow. But developers dealing with rocketing land prices are under pressure to build further upwards. Read more on the BBC website.

Report Warns Of Bleak Future For Ageing Without Better Housing And Planning

The housing and planning system is failing to deal with an ageing society meaning people are likely to find themselves living in homes that do not meet their needs as they grow older, according to a report. Tomorrow’s World: The future of ageing in the UK presents a bleak future for ageing, but it doesn’t have to be this way. There are significant social and economic opportunities, but only if policymakers begin to plan better for the long term. Among its chief concerns, the report highlights:

·         The social care system is crumbling and health care is failing to incentivise the prevention of ill health

·         The housing and planning system is failing to respond to ageing resulting in people living in housing which does not meet their needs

·         Individuals are currently underestimating their life expectancy and risking running out of money in retirement.

Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

LGA Launches Housing Commission

The Local Government Association has launched a Housing Commission to consider ways for councils to increase the supply of homes. The group will consider how town halls can contribute to building the 230,000 new homes England needs. Under its terms of reference, it will consider new ways councils can enable investment in new homes, as well as their placemaking role fostering prosperous places and communities. The potential for housing to support tenants into employment will also be examined, as will how housing can be used to help manage the ageing population and help reduce social care and health service costs.  A call for evidence has been issued looking for examples of good practice that have successfully addressed those issues, and asking what is needed to build on those successes. Read more on the Public Finance website.

A New Manifesto for Housing in an Ageing Society

With the General Election due next year the Older People’s Housing Champion’s Network has produced its manifesto on housing in an ageing society. 

This calls for

·         Future proofing housing for an ageing society

·         Engaging older people far more in the planning and design of new homes & neighbourhoods

·         Promoting a greater choice of specialist and general housing for older people

·         Truly integrating housing into the planning of health and care services

·         Providing rapid access to affordable repairs and adaptations with practical help such as handyperson’s services and Home Improvement Agencies and

·         Providing more independent, impartial information and advice about housing, care and finance options.

Read more on the Age UK blog.

Over 3m Family Homes Can Be Released If Elderly Encouraged To Downsize

The equivalent of a city the size of Manchester (500,000 people) needs to be built every two years to house the UK’s ageing population, but more than three million family-sized homes can be released by building more retirement homes.  Or so said McCarthy and Stone, a company that specialises in the construction of retirement flats, claiming that up to 3.7 million family homes could be released by encouraging elderly people to downsize. However, there remains the matter of a shortage of specialist housing suitable for the country’s ageing population.  A building programme to meet this shortfall would not only release up to 3,750,000 existing and much-needed family-sized homes to tackle the UK’s family housing shortage, but would also sustain 250,000 new construction jobs a year to 2033 and provide a significant boost to the economy, the company said.  Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Reviving the Economy by Moving Out the 'Bedroom Blockers'

Lord Best has come up with a new strategy that will, in his words, "solve all the country's problems".  Here's what the peer proposes: building 100,000 retirement, supported housing and extra-care homes a year. The trickledown effect will, in one handy flourish, pull Britain out of double-dip recession while also solving the country's acute and growing housing crisis.  The boost to the construction industry would, by his calculations, create between 300,000 and 500,000 new jobs.  Building 100,000 homes designed especially for the needs of an ageing population would also help to house 350,000 other people. By selling their under-occupied large family homes and downsizing to smaller, specialist properties, our older people could help a whole generation of potential first-time buyers who are priced out of the market.  Lord Best said many of these homes would have been untouched and undecorated for up to 35 years, and so would sell at the lower end of average market value and be affordable to families struggling through recession. "Nearly all of the 7.8m people of pensionable age have more than two spare rooms, making way for 350,000 family [members] with children."  Read more on the Guardian website.