Legal expert welcomes government pledge to clear up confusion and improve confidence in later-life housing

The other recommendations from the Taskforce’s report which the government agrees with are: 

• Standardising definitions of older people’s housing

• Incentivising a wider range of older people’s housing options

• Expanding older people’s housing at scale, while ensuring it remains affordable for residents and viable to finance, build and operate

• Strengthening planning policies

• Establishing a national information platform and local advice hubs

• Building consumer confidence

The November 2024 report, which covered England only, was not simply a call to build more retirement developments, but importantly addressed mainstream housing, existing homes, affordability and coordination across services. 

The report aimed to help reduce costs to the social care and health systems and give older people more independence if they choose to stay in their own homes. 

Louise said: “Having contributed to the November 24 consultation published by the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, I believe its central message remains important: people need genuine choice about where and how they live in later life. 

“That report recognised that there is no single solution. We need better mainstream homes and a wider range of specialist housing, with options that are affordable to residents and viable to develop and operate. The bottom line is that better later-life housing benefits every generation so let’s get it right now.” 

She added that the relationship between housing, health and care is fundamental: “A suitable home can support independence, wellbeing and connection to the wider community. 

“For me, the government’s response should make suitable homes easier to achieve and give people clearer information about their choices and costs. 

“It should also provide a workable framework for providers and investors, make clear who is responsible to roll this out, and a time-frame for them to do so. 

Louise added: “The debate too often treats housing wealth as a reliable measure of a person’s financial security, but that can be a lazy stereotype and overlook real hardship. Some homeowners have substantial equity in their home, but limited income or inaccessible savings. 

“Others don’t have enough equity to purchase the retirement housing that will need their personal needs. The solution needs to recognise and help the “squeezed middle” – those with some housing equity who can’t afford suitable retirement housing outright but have limited access to social rented accommodation,” she added. 

“The starting point must remain choice, not pressure. People should be supported to move where they wish to—and supported to live well at home where they do not.”

The Government has committed to publishing a more detailed roadmap in the New Year, which should provide further clarity on how these commitments will be taken forward and next steps.