APPG on Housing and Care for Older People
An inquiry into shared ownership 2022
In January 2023, the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People published an inquiry into: ‘Making retirement living affordable: the role of shared ownership housing'.
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 examined 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?
Key issues addressed by the inquiry include:
- spelling out what shared ownership is and ensuring potential purchasers understand the complexities; possibly suggesting simplified and standardised arrangements
- understanding preferences of future occupiers as between shared ownership and renting (to determine the shape of future funding programmes)
- considering the leasehold offer, ensuring transparency and fairness in respect of service charges, responsibilities for repairs and sinking funds; (perhaps considering alternatives to current practices)
- investigating the flexible tenure model that enables shared owners not only to increase their share of ownership but to sell shares back to the provider, to raise cash for care costs (or grandchildren's needs, etc.)
- reviewing the resale process, in particular the problem of finding purchasers for specialist housing through standard estate agents
The inquiry was supported by a panel of six independent members:
- Abigail Davies (Director, Housing Consultancy, Savills)
- Gary Day (Director Land, Design & Planning, Churchill Retirement Living)
- John Galvin (CEO, Elderly Accommodation Counsel)
- Anna Kear (CEO, Tonic Housing)
- Bruce Moore (Chief Executive, Housing 21)
- Jeremy Porteus (CEO, Housing LIN)
The Inquiry was launched in December 2021 and the first meeting was in February 2022. You can read reports of those meetings.
The inquiry forms part of the Housing Our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI).
Housing 21 sponsored the Inquiry and supported the APPG’s inquiry secretariat, which is provided by the Smith Institute.
The co-chairs of the APPG are Lord Best and Peter Aldous MP. The vice chairs of the APPG are Baronesses Kay Andrews, Liz Barker, Ruth Cadbury MP and the late Sally Greengross.
The purpose of the APPG is to “promote discussion and set the agenda for developing better, more joined up housing and care for older people, promising greater choices in later life”.
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Care for Older People will be holding its AGM at 3:30pm on 25 of April in the House of Lords, Committee Room 2a.
For more information about the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People, or to be added to the mailing list for future meetings, please contact Oliver Wheeler, Secretariat for the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People, by calling 020 7219 6799 or by sending an email.
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APPG on Housing and Care for Older People, 25 May 2021
The session was addressed by the Housing Minister, The Right Hon Chris Pincher MP, where he spoke about the building of new homes for our ageing population, including issues around planning, accessibility, town centre renewal, and upgrading homes for older people of modest means.
Following a Q&A session with the Minister, there were presentations on 'how technology can improve older people's lives’.
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About the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People
Housing 21 supports the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People. The group highlights the importance of the role of housing alongside social care and health in providing greater choice and more effective support in later life.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People is an officially registered APPG, which was established in July 2009. It aims to highlight the importance of the role of housing alongside social care and health.
Current and future debates about support and services for older people make this APPG an important forum for agenda setting and discussion about the relationship between housing and care and the need for a comprehensive and joined up approach. The APPG focuses on some key priorities:
- Joining up housing, health and care
- Encouraging control and choice
- Highlighting the need for extra funding
The APPG has recently completed an inquiry on ‘Housing for those living with dementia’.
There has been four inquiry sessions; with expert ‘witnesses’ presenting at each session. The topics included dementia-friendly design / development of new homes, changes and adaptations to existing properties, ongoing input of care and support, including consideration of innovations in technological support.
The report, launched on 17 February 2021 has:
- Made recommendations to central and local government and other key players
- Provided guidance and stimulates interest for housing providers with an interest in older people
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Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI)
The HAPPI principles are based on 10 key design criteria. Many are recognisable from good design generally - good light, ventilation, room to move around and good storage - but they have particular relevance to the spectrum of older persons' housing which needs to both offer an attractive alternative to the family home, and be able to adapt over time to meet changing needs.
Over recent years the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People has looked at the housing needs and opportunities for older people, producing a series of Inquiry reports.
Click here for more information about HAPPI, and to download reports: https://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/Design-building/HAPPI/
