Call for evidence: APPG housing and care inquiry on ‘making retirement living affordable: the role of shared ownership housing’

Background

The demand for older people’s housing already vastly outstrips supply and the gap is widening across all regions. There is a particular and growing concern around less affluent older homeowners - the ‘squeezed middle’ - who can’t afford to downsize or don’t qualify for rented sheltered housing. The Inquiry is examining whether shared ownership is a viable option for this group, and if so, what changes are needed to increase affordable provision and make shared ownership a suitable, and popular option for later life?

Sponsored by Housing 21, the findings of the Inquiry – based on both oral and written evidence – will be sent to ministers, parliamentarians, civil servants, local government, housing providers and other stakeholders. It will also be presented to the government’s newly established cross-departmental task force on housing for older people. 

Share your views!

The Inquiry members are keen to hear a range of views

In particular, they welcome your thoughts on:

• How the market for shared ownership for older households can be best scaled-up, and what  the priorities for the future should be?
• The extent to which the level of public understanding is a barrier - do potential purchases understand the older person’s shared ownership offer?
• Are the Government’s new Older People’s Shared Ownership scheme (and Home Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities scheme) working?
• Are the regulations covering services and leasehold arrangements fair and fit for purpose?
• Is the opportunity to ‘staircase up’ and acquire a larger share inhibiting investment into the sector?
• Can more shared ownership developments enable shared owners to ‘staircase down’?
• Are resale issues a major disincentive to older people acquiring a shared ownership property, and if so, how can the issues be overcome?
• What are the opportunities for new markets, for example, for those in LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority communities?
• What are the barriers to developing new shared ownership schemes for older people, such as planning and design?
• Is the grant funding under current housing and health programmes sufficient or needs to change?
• What is the potential for attracting additional private finance? Is there a case for new incentives to invest?

How to give evidence

Please email your comments and suggestions to: paul.hackett@smith-institute.org.uk

Let him know if your views are not to be cited or quoted. The deadline for submissions is Friday, 3 June 2022.

For more information on the Inquiry see: APPG on Housing and Care for older people

Best regards,

Jeremy Porteus Chief Executive