Housing and population

Some potential impacts of an ageing population on housing and technology development
1. We are facing an increase in the proportion of the population who are in poor health and potentially vulnerable. Homes will be needed that allow for as much self-sufficiency as possible in old age. In March 2004, the ODPM committed itself to reviewing Part M of the Building Regulations (access and facilities for disabled people) in order to incorporate Lifetime Home Standards, so that homes can easily be adapted to different stages of life and to chronic illness or disability.
2. An ageing population has implications for the distribution of wealth and housing. By 2021, the proportion of the population over 45 in age is projected to be 46%, compared with 38% in 1998. Approximately two thirds of the heads of household in England with second homes are over 45 years of age: an ageing population could mean a continuation of the growth in second home ownership, some of which will be in urban areas (Direct Line 2005).
3. There is a danger that equity release on large family homes will continue to be an attractive option to the elderly, rather than trading down to smaller properties.
This is bad news in terms of direct energy use and opportunity cost: the family homes are not available for families, increasing the pressure for new build. Patrick Collinson (Guardian, 28.1.06) warned of the danger that ‘we will build a colossal, expensive and unnecessary equity release industry to allow people to remain in their homes way past any rational reason for doing so. At the same time, we will force first-time buyers into ever tinier starter homes, and ask the same hard-pressed young families to subsidise the council tax of elderly single pensioners in big, under-used properties.
4. The need to make technology accessible and manageable becomes even more pressing as the people for whom it is designed grow older. The design of appliances and controls still needs to be improved so that they are as easily understood as possible and so that users with poor sight or mobility can operate any switches and dials.

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