Pensioners to be encouraged to downsize

So don't move!
Nobody is making anyone!

I'm not sure why all the angst.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 fund a scheme to let first time buyers onto the ladder, by letting them buy them cheaply and renovate them?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.....