Older renters face isolation as rents soar

Older renters are being forced out of their homes and communities due to sky-rocketing rents, according to new research.

The charity Independent Age warns elderly people are facing having to move to deprived seaside towns exacerbating the strain on local services and leaving them isolated from friends and family.

The charity is calling on the government to offer greater protections for older renters and more support with high rents.

Top five most deprived areas in the country

Three of the areas with the biggest increase in older private renters are in the top five most deprived areas in the country.

The analysis shows that ten of the top 20 local authorities seeing the largest increase in older private rented households are coastal areas, including Blackpool, Torbay and Fylde with all the others being northern towns, or in and around Outer London, including Hounslow, Slough and Watford.

Fourteen of the 20 local authorities that saw the largest decreases in older private rented households were in Inner London plus one northern city – Liverpool – and two southern cities – Brighton and Hove and Guilford.

Need more protections

Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age said: “Moving is a stressful experience for many, but for older private renters on a low income, being forced to move out of their community because of the cost is hellish.

“The physical difficulties of packing up belongings, and the fact that there are less suitable available properties for those with long term conditions or access needs – for example needing a wheelchair accessible property – can make the process of moving incredibly distressing.

“That’s why older private renters living on a low income desperately need more protections.”

Ms Elson adds: “If they are forced to move out of the towns they know because of high rent, it is likely they will be cut off from friends and family and move into areas where access to services, including the NHS can be harder, which can lead them to experience worse health outcomes.

“This is not just a disaster for them, but a disaster for our society as a whole. None of us want to live our later years isolated, in poor quality housing or have our freedom to choose where we live taken away.

“Yet this is becoming a reality for a growing number of older people in financial hardship in the private rented sector, and it looks set to increase. The UK government must take action now.”

Lack of social housing

The charity is calling for the government to pass the Renters’ (Reform) Bill as soon as possible along with giving local authorities the power to regulate landlords and rent in their areas.

Independent Age is also calling on the government to increase its investment in social housing. The research showed that out of the 262 local authorities, only two saw an increase in the number of older renters in social housing.

The charity says that the lack of available social housing may be driving the demand for private rented accommodation among those in later life.

Share This Article