According to the data, 18% also regret leaving the location they left behind after moving to a smaller property.
62% of older Brits say they have no plans to downsize. But, feeling like their current home is too big (50%) and the prospect of less maintenance that a smaller home brings (50%) are causing them to think twice.
The research reveals the rise of the ‘Forever Homeowner’ – 42% of over-55s plan to always stay in their current homes. They list the location (63%), their age (54%) and the hassle of moving (49%) as their top reasons for wishing to stay put.
28% admit they simply haven’t planned for their future housing needs. However, there are ‘Forever Homeowners’ proactively adapting their home – whether they need assistance navigating it now, or down the line. 37% believe their mobility needs take priority, while 40% believe an accessible home can still be a stylish one.
44% of Brits aged 55-64 don’t consider their current home accessible. However, the research indicates that, upon entering our sixties, we make adaptations (as this figure drops to just 35% of those aged over 64). Saddeningly, 59% believe they won’t be able to live comfortably in their current home by the time they turn 80.
Despite recognising the importance of home adaptations in supporting their mobility needs, 29% worry that doing so risks lowering the value of their property. 40% have no clue how much home adaptations even cost.
While over-55s claim they don’t know how much it would cost to make their home accessible, 22% feel they can’t afford to future-proof their home.
Vaila Morrison RIBA, inclusive design expert for Stannah, which commissioned the survey, commented: “Memories associated with home is a powerful force and, as well as not relishing the upheaval of moving, there is an understandably strong desire for people to remain in their current location and within their community. This ‘forever home’ view drives home to me that we need to be thinking about our forever (future) selves.
“Any home improvements we do, we should be thinking about how what we do could make our house work better for our future selves. Oftentimes people end up in a position of making do or have to start thinking about intrusive adaptations at a critical point in life, sometimes resulting in barriers coming home after an illness or injury. The earlier we think about inclusive design, the better, which can only be a good thing for helping make our homes more welcoming for older or disabled friends and family too!”
Kate Sheehan, Occupational Therapist for Stannah from The OT Service, commented: “There seems to be a stigma attached to downsizing; it can be perceived that you cannot afford the property you are in. As a society, we need to be more positive about downsizing and not see it as an ‘end of life’ decision, but as a quality-of-life decision.
“Outdoor space has become far more important to people over the pandemic, explaining why there’s such a concern over losing garden space. However, living in big houses and keeping up with maintenance is a real issue, especially as later in life it becomes harder to know who to trust to do work on your home.
“The baby boomer generation is taking a far more positive attitude towards their future needs and are willing to adapt their homes to make them more accessible.”
“Future-proofing can enable you to live a quality of life in the home you choose, with the right modifications to meet your individual needs.”
