Pensioners to be encouraged to downsize

annsixty

I am one of the guilty ones.
I live in a 4 bedroomed house with 2 large reception rooms and a conservatory.
I am not alone though as my GD lives with me since my H died.
I would have liked a bungalow but even 2 bedroomed ones are expensive and the rooms are so tiny.
Apartments are smaller still.
What I am considering is making my almost unused dining room into a bedroom for me.
I have a shower room downstairs and I could be self contained on one level, ideal if I was on my own.
Actually moving to downsize would be impossible for me now, I am 84 with a home full of furniture and memories.
It will be sold when I die.

I own my three bedroom house and I have my son and his girlfriend living with me (no way can they afford to rent anywhere )they used to live in one bedroom upstairs but last year I decided to move my bedroom downstairs in the dining room that’s releasing my bedroom for them and their bedroom becoming their lounge and it’s worked absolutely perfectly….

I was rattling around alone in a lovely 3-bed semi and decided to downsize. I desperately wanted it to go to a family, but it was bought by a childless couple who wanted it for the parking! I’m glad I made the move now, because the cost of heating it would be enormous compared to what I pay now.

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

Bluedaisy in those other countries most elderly people live with, or very close, in smaller apartments, to their family. Their family respect them and look after them. In the UK this really doesn't happen often. Either because people don't want it that way, or families are so busy trying to all work to keep their heads above water they don't have the time.

We have too many books and other belongings to down size. We also need bedrooms for our grown up children to sleep in. At the moment I am in the dining/kitchen while my husband is on the computer in the study.

Lilydrop do you live in Heme Hempstead by any chance? sounds just like where I live.

Loads of flats with one big living/dining/kitchen no parking no hospital not enough schools or GP surgeries for all the new builds.

Dickens

MamaCaz

"... if there is a shortage of these larger houses, and you are under occupying yours..."

But here's the rub. Who gets to decide what is "under occupying"?

For example - my elderly neighbour lives alone but has two bedrooms. Her family, who live some distance away, cram themselves into the additional bedroom when they - regularly - visit. From what I gather, they are on a limited income so would have to fork out for accommodation if she were to downsize to one bedroom. That would, possibly, limit the number of visits.

Is she under-occupying? Who gets to decide the criteria? Who is to say that her needs are any less important than those of a family?

Apart from the fact that there are simply not enough houses for the number of people in the UK... house prices are too high and wages are too low. And shifting a small percentage of one demographic into smaller accommodation will not solve the housing crisis.

I agree with every word you have written.

We live in walking distance of our local town, and the station. Ideally placed for links to main roads. Absolutely no intention of moving, unless there comes a day we cant afford to stay.

MamaCaz

"... if there is a shortage of these larger houses, and you are under occupying yours..."

But here's the rub. Who gets to decide what is "under occupying"?

For example - my elderly neighbour lives alone but has two bedrooms. Her family, who live some distance away, cram themselves into the additional bedroom when they - regularly - visit. From what I gather, they are on a limited income so would have to fork out for accommodation if she were to downsize to one bedroom. That would, possibly, limit the number of visits.

Is she under-occupying? Who gets to decide the criteria? Who is to say that her needs are any less important than those of a family?

Apart from the fact that there are simply not enough houses for the number of people in the UK... house prices are too high and wages are too low. And shifting a small percentage of one demographic into smaller accommodation will not solve the housing crisis.

If you have paid forcot, their is nothing these so called politicians can do.
Social housing is another matter my mil was in a 4 bedroomed council house for 20 years after fil died.
After lots of health issues she moved into supported housing and loves it wished she had done it years ago.
Just trying to persuade my parents to do the same as the house is not manageable now for them.

I know at one point some places were being sold for £1.
There must be so many ways they can resolve housing issues.

pixie601

Why not renovate the many homes and streets that have fallen into disrepair and just left to fall apart - must be cheaper in the long run than building more houses.

Yes, see my answer above to MissAdventure, sorry I missed your post pixie601

MissAdventure

Why not fund a scheme to let first time buyers onto the ladder, by letting them buy them cheaply and renovate them?

Some enlightened Councils have done just that with the proviso that they are not bought, renovated and then let out.

Why not fund a scheme to let first time buyers onto the ladder, by letting them buy them cheaply and renovate them?

No pixie it would cost more to try to get them up to modern well insulated standards than to bulldoze and start again.

Why not renovate the many homes and streets that have fallen into disrepair and just left to fall apart - must be cheaper in the long run than building more houses.

We moved into a cottage in March this year on an over 50’s development. To be honest I was dreading it. I’m 65 and consider myself still young but have been pleasantly surprised as most of the residents are in their 60’s & 70’s and all seem more mobile and healthier than me. It’s nice not to be bothered by kids riding around in our car park. But we moved in to free up a bit of money to help my husbands pension as I’m a 50’s child and do my get my state pension yet, unfortunately we’ve already run out of money as the old lady that had this cottage before us had never spent any money on doing anything to the house or replacing windows, boilers, wiring etc and it’s now obviously in need! The problem I think stems from 1) The state pension is not enough to live on or save enough to repair the home if things go wrong. 2) There are not enough decent sized retirement bungalows around that are desperately needed at decent prices. 3) They seem to have made any retirement villages, bungalows, houses, flats etc come with the most outrageous monthly surcharge……where do they think people get £4K to £5k each year to pay on service charges over and above to pay it from? 4) surely pensioners would be more prepared to give up their bigger houses for the next younger generation if they could downsize to a DECENT size 2/3 bedroom bungalow without a ridiculous monthly charge or just small charge if it involved services, near shops and facilities. As we age I find we are treated as if we are a nuisance to house and a nuisance to look after. Our country is in the minority who treat the older generation like this because in many countries in Europe and the rest of the world the older generation are respected and well looked after. I personally think it’s the Government who set this tone to the younger generations.

The council here did offer a cash incentive to free up places that were under occupied.
I think it might have stopped now, but it did encourage a fair few people to make the move.

My nephew is approaching pension age and occupies a two bedroomed flat in a housing association. He has told the management that he will be happy to move to a one bedroomed flat in the same area if they pay his removal costs. That was three years ago and he is still waiting.

I seem to have opened a Hornet's nest here with my post. It is great to hear your views. We upsized from a 3 to 4 bedrooms home when we retired because we fell in love with the house. Will happily stay here unless ill heath especially mobility means we need to look for a bungalow. As others have said bungalows are difficult to come by and often have large gardens, which defeats the object. Really not interested in new builds as they seem to have so many snagging problems because they are put up hastily and not often with great care. Give me my solid Victorian house any day!

I found my large 4 bedroom house became too much for me to manage on my own. It also had big gardens front and back.
I downsized to a 2 bedroomed flat. All the outside work is done by contractors. My flat isn't tiny having good sized rooms and we have lovely views.
I was pleased that my large house was bought by a young family with 3 children. All the rooms would be used again.
It was a wrench in a way leaving and I totally understand people who want to stay in their homes.
It just wasn't practical for me.

So don't move!
Nobody is making anyone!

I'm not sure why all the angst.

PinkCosmos

I agree with Calendar Girl. If a property is LA/HA rented it should be accepted that you live in a house appropriate to your needs.

It isn't fair that one person can continue to live in a three bed house whilst families are crammed into smaller properties.

I appreciate that tenants make them into homes but at the end of the day they do not own the property.

I am sure many older people would jump at living in a two bed bungalow

"It isn't fair that one person can continue to live in a three bed house whilst families are crammed into smaller properties"

That is just as "unfair" in the private sector as in the social sector: if there is a shortage of these larger houses, and you are under occupying yours, you are potentially depriving a bigger family of a more suitably-sized home whether you own yours

The real issue would seem to be a lack of (affordable) housing of the sizes that are most needed, and this applies as much to owner-occupied homes as it does to social housing.

I refuse to feel guilty for living in a larger house. We have worked hard all our lives and love it here. Absolutely agree Judy54 I don’t want to live in a retirement village or a flat.

I don't think there's anything illogical about someone "rattling around" in a huge house which has more rooms than can be affordably heated - or maintained - being encouraged to downsize to a more manageable property. Though I do wonder just how many pensioners are actually in this position. Most, judging from the comments on here, appear to be putting their extra room / rooms to good use - accommodating visits from family, hobbies, etc. And why shouldn't they - or is this only the preserve of the very wealthy elite?

What irks me about the suggestion from the minister is the fact that it won't solve the housing crisis because I don't believe that there are enough such properties that can be put back on the market, and those that are, are quite possibly likely to be outside the reach of the average couple wanting to start a family, or already having a child or two.

The problem with housing is the refusal of successive governments to properly plan for the expanding population - not to mention the number of properties seized up by landlords to rent; nor the sale of council houses and the lack of re-placing them under Thatcher's government. Then there is the issue of cost. As everyone knows who's moved, it is not cheap - and for some it's just nor affordable.

I think this is just another of those ministerial pronouncements - like suggesting pensioners replace East Europeans by working in the fields, picking fruit, which simply has the effect of pitting the generations against each other.

Property prices are too high, wages are too low - and for those with children, nursery fees are more than many can afford. And there are simply not enough affordable houses to rent - they also offer no security of tenure (which they did, at one time). That is where the problem lies.

How many 'grannies' are there roaming around big multiple-bedroomed houses in reality? I don't know any, there don't appear to be any in my area. Or perhaps the minister believes that elderly people should only have the one bedroom that they sleep in?

Apart from the fact that many of us really don't want to live in 'purpose built' accommodation - away from mixed communities, I think this minister is going to get short shrift and we should ignore his 'suggestion' and let it die along with all the other ideas about what older people should or shouldn't be allowed to do. Those that want to downsize will do so anyway.

What we need is a more equitable and fairer society for all - not a sectioning off of one demographic to make way for another.