MORE THAN one-third of homes in England are “under-occupied”, putting pressure on younger generations as older people remain in their properties for longer, a study has suggested.
The Intergenerational Foundation says in its Hoarding on Housingreport that 25 million bedrooms are empty in England's homes.
The report found that 51.5 per cent of over-65s live in homes with two or more bedrooms that they do not need and half of single households where the owner is aged over 60 have three spare bedrooms or more. More than one-third of homes are “under-occupied”, up from one-fifth in 1971. These are classed as households with at least two bedrooms more than they require.
The Intergenerational Foundation is a new group set up to campaign on financial issues, particularly those affecting younger people, such as affordable housing and job prospects. It says that while many people are living longer and staying in what was once their family home, younger families are being squeezed into smaller properties.
“The ‘housing crisis’ is increasingly an issue of how our housing stock is shared between younger and older generations,” said co-founder Angus Hanton. “The divide between the housing ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ has moved from being one dominated by wealth or class to one dominated by age.”
“It is perfectly understandable that retired people cling to their home long after it has outlived its usefulness as a place to bring up a family in,” said the report’s co-author Matthew Griffiths. “But there are profound social consequences of their actions which are now causing real problems in a country where new housebuilding is almost non-existent.”
The report said that in 2008/2009, three-quarters of over-65s owned their own home, up from 49 per cent in 1981. It said the age group with the largest levels of home ownership is 55-65, with an 80 per cent home ownership rate. The report said: “The ageing UK population will be one where outright home ownership will be the norm. It will also be one dominated by small households.”
Unemployment and debt meant “home ownership is being replaced by the private rented sector as the likely default housing option for younger people”. Over 70 per cent of those in the private rented sector are 16-44, the study found. The foundation said it was not urging the state to “turf out” older generations. It called for exemption from stamp duty for the over-60s when they move to a smaller property, and overhauling the council tax system. – (PA)