Experts warn 1.9m elderly homeowners are living in ‘non-decent’ properties
Many of the properties lived in by older people have poor insulation or outdated heating systems (Image: PA)
A total of 1.9million older people live in “non-decent” homes they cannot afford to fix, new research shows. Many properties have poor insulation or outdated heating systems, pushing energy bills for people already struggling to make ends meet.
The older generation must be at the heart of a new housing strategy that the Government is set to publish within months, according to a paper published on Tuesday by charity the Centre for Ageing Better and Labour-affiliated think tank the Fabian Society. Millie Brown, deputy director for homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “Without urgent action, we are sleepwalking into an escalating crisis given the current shortage of adequate homes for older people and our growing ageing population.” The paper warned that older homeowners are “much more likely to live in poor-quality and inaccessible housing than their younger counterparts”.
And the problems will become more severe, with the number of people aged 55 and over in England expected to grow by five million over the next 25 years, reaching 23million in 2050.
The paper said: “There will be a growing need to ensure that older people can access decent, accessible and adaptable housing.”
About 1.9 million owner-occupiers aged 55 and over live in a home that would fail the Decent Homes Standard, an official measure used by the Government that all rented properties must meet.
Some people in this age range have a significant disposable income, but others do not, and the average cost of improving an owner-occupied property to an acceptable level is £6,000.
Helping older people keep warm at home would reduce poverty, increase life expectancy and reduce pressure on the NHS, the experts said.
In addition, some older homeowners would like to move into more accessible accommodation, such as housing with bedrooms on the ground floor, but there is a shortage of suitable homes.
The report called on the Government to provide loan guarantees for homeowners seeking to improve their properties, and to encourage the construction of accessible new-build homes.
Ben Cooper, head of the Fabian Housing Centre and author of the report, said: “This government can fix the problem, deliver 1.5million accessible and safe new homes, and improve existing properties. The housing strategy must set out how to ensure our country has the homes fit for the future.”
Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley and chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People, said: “Too many older people live in substandard homes that lack accessibility features.
“This important report sets out practical proposals to ensure that as people live longer, new homes are built to be more accessible and adaptable.”
