New research has found that the number of pensioners in private rented homes has doubled over the last decade which further heightens the housing crisis, once again there is an outrage that the government will be allowing evictions at short notice without what is coined as a good reason.

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So with the virtual 100% increase since 2010 of ‘Golden Years’ renters many campaign groups are stating that over 65 renters have little choice when looking for a new place to live.

Morgan Vine, head of policy and influencing at Independent Age, told The Big Issue. “In the past, older people with lower incomes, or those looking to downsize, would have looked to social housing.

“However, the current major shortage of social housing means many older people simply don’t have that option.”

According to analysis of government data by a lender, there has been a 118% increase in over 55s living in rented ‘homes’ since ten years ago.

Further research is finding that the number of new older renters is doubling at the rate of the 35 to 44 year old age group of tenants.

Age UK states that there around two million UK pensioners that are living in poverty of which 750,000 are older renters and 34% are classed as living in poverty with income streams of £17,000 or less.

Many OAPS are confronted with higher living costs if they have care and/or disability needs and spend more on their heating costs if their home isn’t properly insulated.

A spokesperson for the lender explained that because of a number of factors which include, longer life expectancy, increase in divorce, lower pensions’ performances is leading to many older people opting to rent as they are unable to buy their own homes.

The statement by the lender cannot be doubted however it should be noted that other surveys have found that 70% of tenants who are 55 and over stated that they prefer renting, with 63% saying it is so good not to have to stress over carrying out repairs.

Vine continued: “Home ownership is dropping across the board as house prices have soared, and more people are having to rent privately for longer, resulting in more people entering older age without owning their own home.

“It’s very likely that we will continue to see a rise in older private renting, due to a lack of savings in many middle aged households – in 2016/17, 755,000 of middle-aged renting households had no savings at all. If they were to entirely replace the existing 65-plus cohort, it would equate to an 82 per cent increase in older private tenants.”

The Centre for Ageing Better People states that tenants are most at risk of living in poor conditions, and told The Big Issue that 20% of housing stock is classed as “non-decent”.

Increasing numbers of older tenants can in part be blamed upon the reduction in social housing stock, the Centre for Ageing Better’s senior programme manager Henry Smith agrees: “The number of older renters is only likely to increase so landlords must cater for older tenants by making it easier for them to adapt their homes to make them accessible and safe to live in.”

Independent Age and other campaign groups are saying that the abolition of Section 21, termed as “no fault” evictions and is due to be scrapped by the government next year, will be the most important action to be taken so as to protect older tenants.

Vine continued: “While Section 21 is an issue for private renters of all ages, for older people it introduces a huge amount of insecurity at a time in their lives when security is essential.

“It can also be used as a threat against older people who request aides or adaptations, or repairs, from their private landlord.”

“We have also called on the Government to look into longer secure tenancies, making longer leases the norm, local tenant advocates, and local rent controls similar to those operating in Germany. These steps will allow all private renters the security they deserve as they grow older.”