Call for UK to Revamp Sheltered Housing
A Panel of Parliamentarians and experts have issued a passionate call to action, urging urgent measures to revitalise a substantial portion of the approximately 527,000 sheltered housing units in the UK. The goal is to offer high-quality, accessible homes for older individuals that align with contemporary standards and expectations.
An inquiry led by the All-Party Parliament Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People, focused on The Regeneration of Outdated Sheltered Housing, has highlighted the pressing need for significant reinvestment in sheltered housing across the country.
Produced by the Housing LIN and supported by Abbeyfield, the report showcases successful examples of sheltered properties that have been rejuvenated. However, it also sheds light on the financial constraints faced by many housing providers, hindering their ability to modernise existing housing stock.
Under the leadership of Lord Best, the report targets policymakers, government agencies, and sheltered housing providers involved in housing development. It stresses the critical importance of upgrading and regenerating outdated sheltered housing to meet the standards of the 21st century.
The report calls upon the government, Homes England, and the Greater London Authority to acknowledge the value of investing in refurbishing sheltered housing units and ensuring a comfortable living environment for elderly residents. It also encourages social landlords to recognise the broader social benefits of upgrading housing for older individuals to promote mental and physical well-being.
In addition, the report emphasises the need for a modern service model in sheltered housing that caters to a diverse range of older individuals. This model should strike a balance between on-site staff, non-resident services, and technology integration to enhance resident connectivity, experience, and social interactions.
The inquiry gathered insights from various stakeholders, including social housing providers, care providers, architects, residents of sheltered housing schemes, and more. The evidence presented underscored the positive impact of sheltered housing on residents, highlighting the need to not only expand this sector but also breathe new life into existing assets.
The report’s key recommendations include:
- Refurbishing a significant portion of sheltered housing to enable downsizing opportunities and create much-needed homes for families.
- Setting a 10% target for older people’s housing in future capital investment programmes, with a focus on refurbishing existing sheltered housing units.
- Allowing the reuse of historical grant funding to refurbish existing sheltered housing schemes.
- Ensuring capital grant funding rules facilitate the refurbishment and upgrade of sheltered housing schemes without additional requirements.
- Identifying revenue funding sources to support residents of sheltered housing.
- Conducting periodic Older Persons’ Housing Needs Assessments to address local housing needs for older individuals.
- Encouraging strategic reviews of sheltered housing portfolios to ensure suitability and explore refurbishment, repurposing, or replacement options.
- Adopting a ‘charter for disposal of supported accommodation for older people’ to avoid unnecessary sales of sheltered housing units.
The inquiry aligns with the Government’s Older People’s Housing Taskforce and urges the new government and devolved administrations to broaden housing options for older people by implementing the recommendations from both inquiries.
Lord Best, Chair of the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People, highlighted the urgency for regenerating outdated sheltered housing, emphasising the need for affordable, accessible, and sociable homes for the ageing population.
Jeremy Porteus, CEO of the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN), expressed pride in the APPG Inquiry’s role in shedding light on the operational challenges faced by the sheltered housing sector. Despite existing challenges, Porteus remains optimistic about transforming sheltered housing into an attractive housing choice for older individuals in the future.
Paul Tennant, CEO of Abbeyfield Living Society, reiterated the critical role of high-quality housing in older individuals’ lives and the necessity for funding and investment to maintain existing sheltered housing assets. Tennant emphasised the report’s recommendations as effective solutions to safeguarding sheltered housing for future generations.
