Age UK found that 84% of projected household growth to 2043 is among the over-65s.

The charity is calling for a housing strategy which recognises that the vast majority of older people will age in general mainstream homes and places greater emphasis on the large numbers moving between the ages of 50 and 75.

In its new ‘Late Movers’ report, Age UK uncovers a raft of concerns about the affordability, accessibility and quality of housing available for people as they age.   

New research for the Charity reveals large numbers of older people are moving home between the ages of 50 and 75. Just under half (47%) of those polled aged 66 to 74 have moved since the age of 50. 

Despite large numbers of people moving after mid-life, Age UK’s research suggests they are not finding the kind of homes they need to age well. In representative polling of people aged 66+ or above, participants told Age UK: 

• More than 1 in 3, (36%) – equivalent to 4.4 million - are worried about the affordability of their home as they age; and 4 in 10 (42%) - equivalent to 5.1 million - are worried about accessibility.  
• More than 1 in 3, (35%) – equivalent to 4.3 million - are worried about the condition of their home; and 3 in 10 (29%) - equivalent to 3.5 million - reported worries about security.
• Seven in ten (72%) of those aged 66-74 thought it would be difficult to move once they were over the age of 75.  
• Three in ten (29%) of 66-74s thought that moving at 75+ would be very difficult and something they could not manage - even with help.
• For those pensioners (66+) who have moved in the last 4 years, over a third (36%) remain worried about the accessibility of their property – for example, how they would manage in their homes if they struggled with steps or getting in and out of a bath.  

Age UK warns that there is a chronic shortage of housing suitable for older people, with too many living in homes that will not help them to age well. This is bad news for them, for those who care for them, and it increases pressure on social care, the NHS and government finances. Conversely, an affordable, age-friendly, adaptable home in decent condition can play a huge part in helping people sustain their independence, and age in better health. Older people’s housing policy should be a central consideration both in the roll out of the NHS 10 Year Plan and in the deliberations of the Casey Commission on the future of social care.   

The charity believes that the Government and housing sector should pay more attention to ensuring that there is good provision of easily adaptable age-friendly accommodation for the substantial numbers moving home while aged between 50 and 75. This may well be their last house move, so this is a great opportunity to get it right.  

We need to address the shortage of specialist options particularly for those on low and modest incomes. However, the great majority of older people will age in ‘ordinary’ mainstream housing, often property they own but also, and increasingly, property they rent, so it is really important that we do more to ensure these homes can flex to meet their needs as they age.  

With households headed by someone over the age of 65 forecast to account for a massive 84% of all household growth between 2018 and 2043, Age UK urges the Government to ensure its housing strategy responds to this major demographic shift. 

Age UK is calling for a housing strategy which considers how the population will age across all tenures, thinking especially about the group between the ages of 50 and 75 who the polling suggests have moved homes in large numbers. 

Through Age UK’s free national advice line and network of local Age UKs, the charity hears frequently from older people struggling with aspects of their housing:  “Yesterday I went to see a lady in a 7th floor flat. The lift only goes to the 5th floor and so she can’t leave. She only goes out to go to the hospital, and the ambulance men carry her down.” 

“There are not enough adapted homes. It is quite common for people to wait over a year to get adaptations and bidding for adapted social properties can take over a year too.” 

“The caller’s father-in-law has been living in a privately rented bungalow for 20 years. The landlord is selling, and the caller cannot find alternative suitable private rented accommodation.” 

Caroline Abrahams CBE, charity director at Age UK, added: “At the moment we are miles behind where we should be when it comes to the provision of good quality, easily adaptable homes suitable for our ageing population, but the sooner the Government addresses this the quicker we will catch up.”  

“The fact that more than three quarters of all the growth in the number of households in the next twenty years is projected to come from the over-65s should be a wake-up call for everyone with an interest in the future of housing in our country. The Government must act now or we’ll see the mismatch between the housing we have and the housing we need for an ageing population get even bigger than it already is.” 

“Our priority should be to ensure that mainstream housing is suitable for an ageing population and that the new mainstream homes being built under the Government’s ambitious plans can flex to meet the needs of people as they age, especially the significant numbers who choose to relocate in the 50 to 75 age group, many of whom will not move again.”  

“The insights we have gained through this research into the views of older people about their housing also shows how important the state’s financial help with aids and adaptations is. Helpfully, the budget for this has increased in recent years but Age UK remains of the view that we could and should be getting more value from the money being invested: for example, because of delays in the system too many older people wait far too long to get the showers and other adaptations they need to enable them to stay living decently in their own homes.”