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Home: Shortage of Housing for Pensioners

Posted on: Saturday, 31 July 2004, 06:00 CDT

THE UK's last-time home-buyers could face housing problem as major as those affecting first-time buyers, a new report claims.

Government and council planners are not yet tackling the looming problem of housing for our ageing population, according to Clyde Property.

A survey carried out by Home Sale Network, the UK's largest network of independent estate agents, showed 82 per cent of have seen no evidence of councils addressing the housing shortage for elderly last-time-buyers.

And 59 per cent believe the UK is heading for a crisis if planners do not find solutions to cope with the 'grey population'.

People are living longer and it's estimated that by 2031, there will be approximately 15million people of pensionable age.

Clyde Property director Martin Turner said: 'Throughout the sustained period of house price inflation, all the focus has been on the plight of first-time buyers and key workers.

'Meanwhile, we have the ticking time bomb of an ageing population of last-time buyers, who also need to find suitable, affordable homes.

'While a recent report addressed the need to boost housing supply for the working population, there was no reference to growing population of elderly people.

'Our fear is that no-one, in Government or local planning authorities, has spotted the imminent crisis for elderly people'.

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