Is downsizing the answer to our housing crisis?

The UK is in need of thousands of new houses to meet the needs of young people and in particular, there is an urgent need for three and four bedroom family houses.

Yet, according to Melksham Seniors group chair, Brian Warwick, there is almost a complete lack of urgency from the Government to think outside the box to resolve the issue and come up with new ways of tackling the shortages.

“We keep hearing there is insufficient building land available, but for years we have heard the same old political responses, without many constructive solutions forthcoming,” said Brian.

“We have developed a blame culture rather than seeking solutions. The general public, me included, ignore our own inertia or ability to come up with constructive solutions.

“For instance, we have hundreds of thousands of older people living in lovely large family houses, with little or anything being done to entice them to downsize. How often are we told  they don’t want to downsize? Have we ever asked why?

“Many of my friends I have discussed it with would actually love a smaller attractive, accessible home if it provides the adaptations needed for late life and even more so if it also re-leased capital to improve their health and wellbeing and quality of life.

“It is time we invested in providing and promoting desirable high standard quality 1 and 2 bedroom retirement homes, within both the private sector and social housing. Such high standard housing, built with the desirable late life adaptation and truly accessible, would also reduce the demands on care services.

“It is quite understandable that very few older people are prepared to move out of their family home and downsize into far often inferior accommodation, unless it is a necessity.

“Far too many of our sheltered housing complexes were built in the 50 and 60s and are urgently in need of refurbishment. Far too many of them are small studio apartments without even decent storage space. Today, the UK is way behind the majority of the EU in providing such high standard retirement homes for the over 55s, at a realistic price to encourage downsizing.

“There are a few exceptions,  which are being snapped up by those who are able to release considerable capital to purchase them in the present over-priced market. But they are in most cases presently outside the income bracket of so many citizens.

“We need a new more urgent approach to improving housing for all. Down sizing is only a small, yet important part of a larger solution to providing decent homes. Far too often we tend to put off decision-making and thinking outside the box until a real crisis arises. Well to me, we have now reached that point, so let’s get cracking and reach out for far better solutions than those presently in place.”