Challenging unsuitable housing: research for the Centre for Ageing Better
This research explores the experience of twenty people aged between 50-70 living in homes that do not meet their needs.
The findings highlight the toll that a damp, cold and inaccessible home has on daily life. And yet these experiences are a reality for over two million households living in homes occupied by someone aged over 55 in England that do not meet basic decency standards.[1] Although these problems are pervasive, some are also relatively cheap to solve: around one third of all non-decent homes could be repaired for £1,000.[2]
The Centre for Ageing Better asked Ipsos to explore the lived experiences of people aged between 50-70 who live in homes that do not meet basic standards. We worked with twenty participants to understand more about:
- The relationship that people approaching later life have with their home;
- The impact of the problems they have with their home on their health, wellbeing, financial security and social connections;
- Their ability to access help and support to improve their living situation, and an analysis of the barriers that stops them from doing this.
Our findings are summarised in two films highlighting the issues and the barriers to making changes. You can find more information about the Centre for Ageing Better and the research on their website.
[1] A home is defined as 'decent' or 'non-decent' according to a set of technical measures, including whether or not it: 1. Has specific hazards that pose a threat to occupants' health or safety (risk measured using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System).2. Is in a reasonable state of repair. 3. Has reasonably modern facilities (e.g. has a kitchen that is 20 years old or less). 4. Has a reasonable degree of thermal comfort (e.g. efficient heating and effective insulation).
[2] Centre for Ageing Better. 2020. Home and Dry.
