Here are two reports that have significance for seniors living in England.
The first report, prepared by Independent Age, analysed data about where seniors are living. The data is from two census years (2011 and 2021). During this period, the number of older households living in private rental housing rose by 55%.
The authors of the study name a few of the characteristics of private rental housing that pose risks for renters, especially older ones:
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- Private rental housing is more likely to have mould and damp than other forms of tenure (ownership and social rent housing). Older adults, as well as young children1 are susceptible to lung infections and asthma, which can be exacerbated by mould and damp.
- Tenants in private rental housing have the least housing stability of all forms of tenure. If they have to move, older adults have difficulty building networks and connections in new locations.
Independent Age also found that there have been shifts in where older people are living. The data show significant increases in places where rents are low, while expensive cities like London are emptying out.
The second report discusses a research project that recorded temperatures inside homes. Recent heat waves have driven up temperatures indoors. High temperatures are a health risk for older adults and people with chronic health conditions.
Why does this matter?
It turns out that the average summer temperatures in London are higher than they are in the districts that have growing populations of seniors. It appears that lower rents go with lower temperatures. The stresses of moving are significant to be sure, but it seems that on at least one score, older people who move to communities with lower rents may get a small health benefit thrown in: less summer heat.
The details of these reports will be of particular significance for readers in England. The same details may apply in other jurisdictions. It is possibly also important to keep in mind that there can be bright spots even in situations that seem to be wholly negative.
The report about moving trends goes well beyond the rise in private rental housing for seniors in its research. It can be accessed at Independent Age: No place for older renters
The report about indoor air temperatures is posted by CaCHE: The heat is on: the growing problem of overheating in domestic homes in England and the need for a national strategy
Footnotes
- For more on the health effects for young children try: Moulds Don’t Bother Many But For Some In Social Housing They Are Deadly
