27^th Nov 2017

The Guardian has just ran a story that the lobby group Generation Rent, is predicting that in 2035 there could at least be one million pensioners renting their accommodation in just under twenty years from now.

In the UK there are around 370,000 pensioner households paying rent to landlords, however the campaign group is expecting that the number could triple to 995,000 by 2035 if the current level of house building remains the same.

The campaign group predicts that many of the pensioners who are and will be renting their 'homes' will become reliant on housing benefit to help pay their rent, which of course will be a further burden on the welfare budget. From the group's research it shows that older tenants will try to opt for secure tenancies with rent controls and tenancy assurances.

Many housing groups are in force lobbying Philip Hammond, the chancellor, to pledge much more support to increase housebuilds and rent reforms in his budget later this month.

Director of Generation Rent Dan Wilson Craw, said: “With most debates on housing focused on young adults, politicians risk neglecting the vast numbers of people who are already too old to get a mortgage and face a lifetime of renting.

“As they start retiring in greater numbers, the state will have to pick up the tab unless it makes some fundamental changes to the housing market.

“The answer is not further cuts to housing benefit, because that will only further immiserate people who have nowhere else to turn.

“Instead, we need years of investment in new homes to bring down rents and a transformation of the private rental market into a professional provider of long term homes.

“This means giving tenants protection from unfair evictions and putting a limit on rent rises.”

News Archive »