Family homes being blocked due to lack of suitable homes for ‘last time buyers’

According to the annual homeowner survey conducted by YouGov for HomeOwners Alliance and BLP Insurance, one in five (19 per cent) homeowners aged 55 or over considered moving in the past two years but have not done so; equating to more than 2 million homeowners.

A total of 23 per cent of homeowners aged 55 or over who considered moving say lack of suitable housing was the main reason they did not do so. This equates to more than 500,000 homeowners.

There are an estimated 11.4 million homeowners age 55+. So-called last time buyers are seen as a way to help ease the housing crisis in the UK. If older homeowners living in homes that are under-occupied moved to smaller properties it would free up more housing stock.

The survey, conducted by YouGov for HomeOwners Alliance and BLP Insurance, found that 6 per cent of homeowners age fifty-five or older say they have moved in the two past years and a further 19 per cent have considered moving but not done so.

A lack of the right kind of homes is the main reason for older homeowners deciding to stay put (23 per cent of homeowners age 55+ who considered a move in the past two years say this is the primary reason for not moving).

The survey has revealed that emotional ties more than financial concerns are a significant barrier to moving home in later life. The stress and upheaval of moving is more likely to be among the reasons not to move for homeowners age 55+ who considered a move (30 per cent vs 21 per cent homeowners overall), as well as, not wanting to move away from friends, neighbours and their community (23 per cent v 17 per cent homeowners overall). Property prices are less likely to be a barrier (22 per cent vs 31 per cent among homeowners overall).

When thinking about a future move, top priorities are similar regardless of age. Good build quality (71 per cent), spaciousness of rooms (72 per cent) and parking (69 per cent) top the list. However, compared with UK homeowners generally, a greater proportion of homeowners age 55 or older identify availability of parking (77 per cent vs 69 per cent), low running costs (70 per cent vs 59 per cent), proximity to shops (66 per cent vs 55 per cent), good transport links (56 per cent vs 47 per cent) and living on one level (36 per cent vs 24 per cent) as important criteria in their next new home.

When considering new build properties as an option, older homeowners see new builds as being particularly strong on low running costs (52 per cent) but less likely to deliver on spaciousness of rooms (23 per cent), the amount of available green space (23 per cent) and providing living on one level (12 per cent). Being near to amenities and good transport links are also aspects that are seen as less typical of new build homes.

Paula Higgins, chief executive officer of HomeOwners Alliance, said: “The recent Brexit decision means we are now in the midst of uncertain times and new housing is likely to be a victim. Government needs to focus efforts on negotiating a European exit but they must not drop the ball in delivering new housing that meets the needs of last time buyers. House builders can’t be allowed to sit on their hands and land bank. The government needs to keep them building and building houses that meet the needs of last time buyers as well as first time buyers.”

Kim Vernau, chief executive officer, BLP Insurance, said: “The issues highlighted by this survey that face last time buyers are as acute as those issues encountered by first time buyers. If we wish to provide the required quality of housing that addresses these concerns we desperately need an appropriate mix of well-designed homes alongside adequate local infrastructure to help address the current housing shortage.”