Pensioners to be encouraged to downsize

The concept of older people being pressurised to ‘downsize’ infuriates me! The idea of what is ‘suitable’ for retirees is insulting and usually way off the mark! Retirement accommodation, purpose built, actually is often not fit for purpose, a box like flat (sorry, ‘apartment’,now, sounds more exclusive-sarcasm!) in which one can hope to have just enough room to watch tv and (just about) move around. No garden, no space for beloved books, hobbies etc or family to gather or stay over. And surrounded by a ‘community’ of other older people! Sounds like an Orwellian hell to me! Unless one is frail and needs support, a pensioner needs space for all the things they did when younger. We do not turn into dear old dodderers as we age; those in power should get real and realise that it is the cumulative mistakes of many government causing the housing crisis and not folk trying to lead a fulfilling life in their older years which, incidentally, they have worked hard for!

When I read the title I thought it would be about people in social housing being forced to move into smaller properties.

My needs at 40, 20 years ago changed. I am in a 3 bedroomed social housing. I fled domestic abuse back in 2000. I was rehoused into social housing.

I still have 1 adult son at home who has health needs. My 2nd husband passed away nearly 4 years ago, unexpectedly.

My health dictates that I'm not in a fit state to move. I won't move. We walked the fires of hell, in the aftermath to get this place.

We were hidden homeless for two and a half years, my children then had to spend a short period in the care system whilst I got permanent housing and my mental health needs sorted.

Too much blood, sweat and tears were built on our lives for me to move again.

Regarding social housing this needs to be built before anymore private housing. The stock has never been replenished. It needs to be restocked as too many have been sold.

FTB can’t afford private housing. This needs to be looked at and acted on before private housing.

Where I understand the poster above saying its selfish for people to stay in a bigger house than you need each case must be taken on merit.

It's not black and white regarding moving. Some people also need the spare room for a carer to stay and the like

This decision is obviously an individual thing and, as we all know, government policy (any government before the tory bashing starts) does not cater for individuals. I personally am glad that me and my husband live in a smallish ground floor one bedroom flat - now his disability is getting worse it is such a relief not to worry about stairs, and the council will do adaptations as necessary for him (already had a disabled shower installed and some grab rails). So far as I am concerned, if you own your own home then it is totally your decision - if you are in social housing like us then I feel it is selfish to continue to occupy a home too big for your needs when there is a waiting list a mile long for larger properties.

How do you think families, mum, dad, two or more children, crammed into small terraces or flats would view the comments on this thread?

I do feel very angry by this topic. I and my dear husband worked so hard all our working years to enable us to buy a really nice house which we both still enjoy fully. The sacrifice of other things like holidays, good clothes for ourselves and meals out was worth it. Because in the later stage of our lives we love home and it's comfortable lifestyle it provides us, family often stay for years before they are able move on. I feel angry someone should suggest we give it up after my husband and I went without for decades. Our lovely has provided us and our family so much. I would like to tell that MP to build homes that younger struggling families can afford and leave those that have spent a lifetime working and providing for our families alone. Currently my granddaughter and great granddaughter live with us - we couldn't have them iif we lived in anything smaller.

We are moving from a large house to a slightly smaller bungalow in a different area. For us, we have lived all our lives in our area but we don’t like the changes that have occurred over the last 10 years so, like many around us, we are moving further out. In doing so, we lose our small mortgage which is due for repayment in 2 years. Yes, it will be daunting, no we won’t know a soul where we move to, but we shall make the best of it and be positive. It’s a beautiful area, near the coast but not on it, so lots of possibilities open up in terms of days out etc. If all fails and we hate it, we will move back again but we are fairly sure that won’t happen. Luckily, we are not a huge family, we are not bound by lots of child minding requirements like friends of ours are, so we have greater flexibility. Fingers crossed!

I thought it was a good proposal that developers should be required to include in their developments, homes that are suitable for individuals to move into in later life.

It depends what younger people eg developers think might be suitable homes for older people.

I know what I would like.

Sorry, was interrupted on my earlier post. Perhaps if there were fewer holiday homes, these beings left empty for months at time. Also properties now used for Airbnb that previously were permanent homes. DS moved to a new estate on edge of a city 2 years ago. House opposite, 4 beds, occupied by couple with one child. June this year property turned into Airbnb inspite of Conditions in Deeds that prohibit property being used for business purposes. Neighbours etc going to instigate Court proceedings to have Airbnb stopped. Not all young folk can't afford a large house, the Airbnb people moved to a bigger property newly finished on the estate. Why do people not use Hotels, B&Bs?

Well there we are. I thought it was a good proposal that developers should be required to include in their developments, homes that are suitable for individuals to move into in later life.

I’m lucky to live in an area where the local council already makes that a requirement of planning permission, it’s the result that here is a plethora of bungalows and spacious apartments fir whoever wants one, rented or owned. All new developments have a good mix of housing.

When I was left alone I my big four bedroom house I desperately wanted something that was more intimate (and less expensive) and yes I was “rattling around” from empty room to empty room. But there was nothing in my area I could move to. All the building was of lucrative four bed luxury homes. A move to a different area was my only option.

Why all the protest of what I consider to be a welcome and sensible requirement. A mix of homes on every development including those suitable for older people so that they can remain in their homes as long as possible.

I think it would be an great pity for this to be shelved because a false media headline has stirred up indignation over “being forced to leave our homes”.

Please read what is actually proposed not what a sensational headline tells you.

Gabrielle56

Pollyj

It shows how out of touch he is thinking most first time buyers could possibly afford these large houses to start with!

Ooh I bet his plan B is for us to sell at a discount to 'help' the Young's to get on the ladder?!?! Wrong! But I bet the thought has flitted across his teeny mind.....

Let his house be the first on the list.

I'm happy to downsize if he can find somewhere that meets with my approval.
In the meantime, despite a daily search, I can find nothing suitable.

At the last election I voted for Democracy not BJ!
As far as downsizing. Not us, we upsized to accommodate our expanding family?.

Polly tickle can I live in one of your town centre flats when you get them built? ? I will need a shared garden and a private balcony.
I will have no objection to downsizing to a pensioner flat in about 10years time and I actually think being with other oldies could be good - it could be like being a student again living with others of a similar age with similar interests, experiences, problems. Hopefully we can share care costs of gardeners, cleaners etc between all the residents. But where I live this sort of housing is very rare and over subscribed and if you own your own house often you are not eligible to move in! So I think this policy needs a lot more thinking about on the governments side. I think care homes need to be made a more appealing proposition for older people, as I'm sure we will be cheaper and easier to look after if we live together in sheltered housing, care homes, or old people villages. If they were all like a recent novel I read (title was the Thursday murder club or something similar written by a TV quiz show presenter) they would be good fun to live in ?
But as others have said on here, at the moment we are currently making our home more cosy to look at ve in and intend to stay in our 4 bedroom house on an estate. As most recent housing is very small we are definitely not rattling round in it, we've just spread out a little and have space to persue individual pursuits in different rooms, now my husband and I are both retired, without getting in each others way. A grandson has taken over one of the bedrooms anyway and regularly comes to stay. First time buyers will not afford to buy it and we probably won't be able to afford to buy a pensioners flat with the proceeds, currently no interest earned on savings so any money we did make downsizing would get eaten away by inflation!

Buying a Leasehold apartment with high Service charges and ground rents doubling after a certain time is only putting money into these Freeholder' pockets. It is why so many McCarthy Stone retirement properties are being built. Once you buy one, you are a sitting duck. On the positive side, you are safe as long as you can afford to live in one.

We’ve just “ upsized” from a 3 bed terrace in North London to a 4 bed detached in Hertfordshire to accommodate our growing family of in laws and grandchildren.
I have no intention of selling up and moving to something smaller and I bet there are loads of us older homeowners who won’t either.

I would hate to be in a retirement village or flats with only old people, needing to pay exorbitant servce charges, and leaving your heirs to sell an asset that has lost value, they all do, but still having to pay that exorbitant service charge. It sounds great when you read the brochures but the extras that they try and tempt you with are extras. There's not enough room for guests, they are rip offs.
For some, moving will be the right choice. A chance to be nearer family, public transport, shops, and if you don't. Like a big garden a chance to get a place with a small one. For others maybe making sure that your house is fit for you if you become less mobile or infirm, maybe pitying in a downstairs loo and a shower room if you have space, my in-laws caused no end of problems to themselves not putting in a downstairs loo when they should have done. Doing some decluttering is good too so if you decide to move you are better placed to do so. Make living there as easy as possible, get the place modernised if you can afford to . Doing that will be a selling point at any time in the future.
We are not the problem, it is the lack of suitable housing stock. Small family homes with a bit of a garden bungalows for those who would prefer. Here in the south new houses are so often huge expensive ones, and even if the couple have children they are rattling around to be honest.
If the time comes and I can't manage the garden have thought I might offer the veggie garden to someone to use in return for some of the crops, and pay a gardener for the rest. With the spare room I could get a lodger or rent out on air bnb so I had a room. For. Visitors when I need. . If I need family nearby then I can always move then, but my nearby daughter works long hours.
He forgets that old folk won't be rattling around the houses forever, we will eventually be taking a one way journey to the cemetery, and then the house will be on the market. And actually every day old people die or move into homes, so houses are hitting the market regularly and without the previous owners taking up a smaller place
So build the suitab le housing and young and old will be able to make their minds up what to do. Bungalows will be snapped up by those who want them leaving their bigger houses for those able to upsize, leaving smaller houses for first time buyers. There's more than one way to skin a cat

I get your point * Peasblossom* and I think builders need to concentrate on homes for older folk at the minute as they are in short supply. I just don't like the government attitude that we are 'rattling' round in a house that most of them would consider too small. And making pensioners look selfish

If I sold my house to downsize it would take every penny plus an extra sum to purchase a small flat, not going to happen. I will enjoy the space I have for as long as I can.

RustyBear

DH & I would actually like to move into a bungalow, but no one is building them round here, because land is so expensive - they are building three or even four storey town houses instead.
I would like to see some incentives for developers to build bungalows, not in an OAP ghetto, but in a mixed development of bungalows, flats, starter homes and family homes, so there is a mix of neighbours of all ages.

That is actually one of the things he wants, Developers to build a mix of housing with 1 in 10 suitable for occupation in later life.

Does anybody care about what he actually said?

Or are we all happy with what somebody has told somebody who told somebody what somebody told them he said ?

Whilst in no way am I supporting this idea of downsizing (unless youreally want to), I must make some comment on how many people think tht living in any sort of accommodation amongst other retired people is bad.

The block of 25 flats I live in, has no age limitation, but, perhaps due to where they are, price, etc. ALL the people living here just happen to be 60 plus. (Some of them very much plus - our oldest lady is 103 years old and still totally independently living).

It is actually very pleasant that we are all older, whereas we have family with children visiting, we do not have people coming in late at night or running around as small children do. We actually close the gates on our entry porch, and lock our car park early each evening. Not preventing people using these (everybody has a key to the car park), but it gives and extra feelong of security.

After all, your neighbours are not the only people you mix with. I belong to various groups, and some of those of made up of mixed ages, but find I do tend to enjoy those like U3A with older people.

I know that when I meet up with younger g.children, I find them very exhausting - and they are all pretty well behaved youngsters. Most of the teenagers almost talk in a language which is like a foreign one to me.

I really enjoy that the age group of the people I live close by are near to mine.

Retired65

The Queen has several large homes. Perhaps she needs to set an example to the rest of us?

I did hint at this earlier. But I wonder how many in our ruling party could do likewise.

I very much doubt it Gabrielle.
No one has to sell if they don’t want to!

Pollyj

It shows how out of touch he is thinking most first time buyers could possibly afford these large houses to start with!

Ooh I bet his plan B is for us to sell at a discount to 'help' the Young's to get on the ladder?!?! Wrong! But I bet the thought has flitted across his teeny mind.....

My Mum (now 90) moved into a new retirement apartment a couple of years ago - it’s the best decision she’s ever made!
She was definitely ‘rattling around’ in a 4 bed house and had all the worries about maintenance. She now has a great social life with some lovely neighbours, who range in age from 60+ to 90+. It was lucky that she’d already moved when the lockdowns started.
There are drawbacks - she sold her house for £250,000, but the new one bed apartment cost £199,000 plus £5000 for a parking space. Her weekly maintenance fee includes gardening, repairs to the communal areas, use of a communal lounge, security and the services of a site manager.
It’s definitely an option for anyone who wants to downsize while still retaining some independence. Of course, it’s not ideal for everyone though.

I completely agree with you. I love to have mixed ages around us as it makes us feel more alive. Also, at our age and with a few health problems we both have our own bedrooms so as not to disturb each other. Neither do we want to spend our daytimes in one room 24/7. We get on very well having other rooms to pursue hobbies etc. Also, space is needed when children and grandchildren visit. Throw us into a tiny dwelling amongst only other old folk and we would be certain to go into a decline putting much more strain on NHS and other services.