Housing for Older Londoners

The London Assembly Housing Committee is investigating housing for older Londoners.

• To understand to what extent London’s housing stock is meeting the needs of people over the age of 65, particularly given the projected increase in the city’s older population 
• To understand the impact of unsuitable housing on older Londoners and how good housing can help Londoners to age well  
• To investigate the role of under-occupancy in social housing in the context of housing for older Londoners 
• To ask what further action needs to be taken to make London’s mainstream housing (both new and existing stock) more suitable for older people with additional needs, including housing size mix  
• To ask what further action needs to be taken to ensure that London has enough high-quality specialist accommodation for older people  
• To scrutinise the Mayor’s policies and programmes related to housing for older Londoners, and ask what further action he can take 

• Approximately 12 per cent of Londoners are over the age of 651, compared to 19 per cent of the UK population. However, London’s population is ageing. Demographic projections from the GLA predict a 57 per cent increase in Londoners aged 65+ from 2024 to 2051 (from 1.1 million to 1.8 million). There will therefore be an increase in demand for housing that is suitable for older people with additional needs.  
• The vast majority (91 per cent) of over 65s nationally live in mainstream housing. Research suggests that older people would generally prefer to remain in their current homes, potentially with adaptations, rather than moving. However, much of the country’s existing housing stock is not suitable for older people with additional needs. According to Age UK, nationally, “there is a huge shortage of housing that is suitable for an ageing population.”
• An ageing population means that London will need more accessible and adaptable homes. Just 17 per cent of homes in London meet the minimum standard for accessibility (although this is higher than the national average of 13 per cent). The London Plan 2021 stated that all new housing should meet at least the higher M4(2) standard for accessibility, but this target is currently not being met. The Draft London Plan 2026 contains the same commitment.
• There are barriers which prevent older people from adapting their homes to meet their needs. Renters can find it difficult to get their landlord’s permission to adapt a home. The median cost for an owner-occupied property to be made decent is nearly £6,000. There is also a lack of information and support for older people who want to adapt their homes, and this support differs in different parts of the country.
• According to the 2021 Census, 8 per cent of London households aged 65+ live in the private rented sector, 27 per cent live in social housing and 65 per cent own their own home. But there is a projected growth of older Londoners living in the private rented sector, with the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) forecasting that, by 2041 at national level, 17 per cent of 65+ households could live in the private rented sector. In London, there has been a growth in households aged 45-64 who rent privately, with 18 per cent of this age group now renting privately in the capital.
• There are various types of specialist housing for older people, but sheltered accommodation is the most common form. Research from Centre for London in 2021 found that there was a particular gap in the availability of specialist housing for older people in London, with the city developing less than half of this type of housing that it needs.

1. What are the specific housing needs of Londoners over the age of 65? 
2. What impact does unsuitable housing have on older people and how can good housing help them to age well? 
3. To what extent is London’s housing stock suitable for people over the age of 65, particularly given the projected increase in the city’s older population? 
4. What role does under-occupancy in social housing play in relation to housing for older Londoners? 
5. What action would you like the Mayor, London boroughs and the Government to take to support older Londoners in making adaptations to their existing homes? 

The Housing Committee has launched a call for evidence, open to anyone with knowledge or views on housing for older Londoners. The Committee would particularly welcome responses from individual Londoners, charities, policy experts, academics, London boroughs and housing associations.

Written submissions should be sent as an attachment to [email protected]. Please use ‘Housing Committee call for evidence’ as the subject line.

The deadline for submission is Friday 30 October.