Blog: Why must we improve housing stock for older people?

Ahead of the publication of the UK Government’s housing White Paper, Merlin Stone, Professor of Marketing and Strategy at St Mary’s University, Twickenham shares his view. I am currently undertaking research into the older adult in Europe, looking at a range of issues from employment to housing and care. The housing White Paper is due out any minute, but here are my thoughts meanwhile, All the indications are that the housing White Paper will at last do more than tinker with the problem of building enough houses to provide an updated housing stock for older adults, ensuring that they are less at risk of falls and problems caused by cold and damp. It’s excellent that steps will be taken to make it easier for elderly people to move into sheltered accommodation but this accommodation does not yet exist in high enough quality, or large enough volume. If the ageing population is going to be well served, with good models of care and independent living, over the next 30 years, many more houses will have to be built and these homes must to fit-for-purpose. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says 37% of UK homes are under-occupied by older people. Moving quickly but sensitively on this could do a lot to solve the housing crisis. The economic impact of failing to provide adequate housing options is twofold: Firstly, failure to build warm, safe, technologically smart and attractive homes for older people will lead to a scarcity of family homes on the housing market, therefore increasing overall house prices. Secondly, the increase in the cost of caring for an older person in a home that is not equipped to meet their needs will affect the cost to the taxpayer significantly. That is why I am working with colleagues from universities across the UK to address this pressing issue – looking at the housing market, and also health, employment, and the impact of technology in particular. The aim of our work will to not only produce a wealth of academic insight into the issues pressing older people in Britain today, but by working alongside local authorities, health bodies and Central Government, we can support them in enacting positive change for the over 65s of today. We need to consider the housing market in the UK as a chain from first homes, through to family homes and on to retirement. The simple fact is that if we’re unable to provide suitable and attractive housing for our older population, we will not free up larger properties for families. Our older generation are increasingly tech savvy, and advances in in-home technology will enable today’s over 65s to live independently, in suitably adapted accommodation, instead of being in hospital or in long term care. However, to realise this vision, more new houses need to be built. Further measures in the March budget, such as a reduction in stamp duty, particularly for those moving out of larger homes, could be important in ensuring that people are not discouraged from moving to more suitable accommodation as they age. Technology is enabling change in how older people can retain their independence. As such, it is important to liberalise supply to allow builders to build more houses, to innovate, experiment and respond to demand that is out there today. Perhaps most important of all, the culture of mutual blame between developers and local authorities – in which local authorities blame developers for not building once planning permission has been given, and building firms blame local authorities for either not giving planning permission, or for tinkering with the planning permission once given, must be ended.