Housing for older people - Second Report of Session 2017–19

This report by The Communities and Local Government (CLG) Select Committee on Housing for Older People calls for a national strategy for older people's housing to bring together and improve policy in this area.

The CLG Committee's report on Housing for Older People (opens new window) recommends that the wider availability of housing advice and information should be central to the strategy and the existing FirstStop Advice Service should be re-funded by the Government to provide an expanded national telephone advice service. It also calls on the Government to recognise the link between homes and health and social care in the forthcoming social care green paper.

The Committee also recommends that the National Planning Policy Framework be amended to encourage the development of more housing for older people and that councils identify a target proportion of new housing to be developed for this purpose, as well as publishing a strategy which explains how they intend to meet the housing needs of older people in their area.

The recommendations also include:

• Additional funding for Home Improvement Agencies operating services including a handyperson service for older people.
• A range of measures to help older people overcome the barriers to moving home including an accreditation for companies which provide tailored services for older people moving home and better customer service and guidance from lenders when applying for a mortgage.
• Ensuring that national and local planning policy encourages the building of more of all types of housing for older people - extra care, retirement, sheltered and accessible housing across the social and private sectors, with older people involved in the design process.
• Building all new homes to accessible and adaptable standards so that they are 'age proofed' and can meet the current and future needs of older people.