Older People Can Benefit Housing Sector

Although the housing crisis for older people in the UK has escalated, few critics have considered the other side of the coin; that older people might be considered an asset to the housing sector.

According to a report in The Guardian, the National Housing Federation (NHF) has recently suggested that housing providers draw up new business models that allow them to recognise the advantage of the ageing population in the country to the future of housing.

The policy leader at the NHF, Emily Bird, will be advocating this view at the Chartered Institute of Housing, older people’s housing and support conference in Warwick. She said: "We need to look at older people as assets, whether that's about being an active part of the 'big society', volunteering in their community or having equity or other wealth."

This change in attitude means a change in the type of services for home owners and potential buyers. It also means a greater focus on the potential positive aspects of ageing.

Focusing on the positive, a wider range of home ownership products can be made available with the needs of older people in mind. Existing, middle class home owners, for example, will look for new accommodation as they age. This can be of great benefit to the future of housing in the country.

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