Brexit obsessed Britain is a country and no country for old men living in unsafe, unsuitable and unhealthy housing

Earlier this summer a Government report by a cross-party group of MPs entitled : Inquiry into decent and accessible homes for older people' created hardly a stir in a Britain because the whole of the political machine and attendant political energy is devoted to the sole issue of Brexit.

It revealed that in 2019, in Britain, more than 2 million old men and women are still suffering from poor physical and mental ill health and even death as a consequence of living in substandard and non-accessible homes. In addition, this substandard housing costs the cash-strapped National Health Service £1.4bn every year because  cold, damp and other hazards cause old people to fall and exacerbate conditions such as heart disease, strokes, respiratory illnesses and arthritis as well as contributing to poor mental health.

Rachael Maskell MP and Chair of the group said : “Many older people are living in unsafe, unsuitable and unhealthy accommodation with little hope of being able to move somewhere better or improve their homes. Unless we work to find tangible solutions, older people and some of the most vulnerable in society will continue to live in substandard and unsuitable accommodation, the implications of which could be devastating to their physical, mental and social wellbeing.”

The report was produced after an in-depth inquiry over the last year into the link between health and housing, home ownership, supported housing, and the private rented sector and it predicted that the number of old men and women renting in the private sector often in unsafe, unsuitable and unhealthy accommodation would soar in the coming years. Currently households comprising people aged over 65 account for less than 10% of all those living in the private rented sector, but their numbers are reportedly rising fast and a recent survey by the National Landlords Association found that the numbers of retired people in Britain moving into the private rented sector had increased by 200,000 over the last four years.

Lady Jolly, a Liberal Democrat peer, said : “There are increasing numbers of older people living in the private rented sector who are struggling with rising rents, insecure tenancies and a lack of social or supported housing to move into. We have to consider whether this sector can be suitable for all older private tenants, especially those with low incomes developing care and support needs. We urgently need to reform security of tenure for all private tenants as this will play a key role in improving conditions and accessibility for growing numbers of older people living in privately rented homes.” 

The report recommended a 'National Housing Strategy' to help to improve housing standards for this and future generations of old people. Lady Greengross, a cross-bench peer said : “Many older people are living in unsafe and unhealthy accommodation, and have little hope of being able to move somewhere better. To tackle this, more older people should have the option of living in sheltered or supported housing. Unless we work on sustainable solutions, vulnerable older people will continue to live in substandard accommodation, the implications of which could be devastating to their physical, mental and social wellbeing.”

Andrew Selous MP, a member of the Health and Social Care Committee, said :
“Everyone should be able to live in a decent, healthy, accessible and adaptable home that allows them to receive the right health and care services at home. It is important that we improve the conditions of our current housing stock so that it works for the older people living in them.”

List of organisations, groups and individuals who gave their time and provided information to the Inquiry : 

* Age UK
* Anchor Hanover
* PPG for Healthy Homes and Buildings
* APPG for Housing and Care for Older People
* APPG for Housing in the North
* Associated Retirement Community
* Operators (ARCO)
* Bristol City Council’s Private Housing and Accessible Homes Team
* Building Research Establishment
* Care and Repair England
* Centre for Ageing Better
* Chameleon Technology
* Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
* Chartered Institute of Housing
* Clive Betts MP
* Elderly Accommodation Council
* EROSH Foundations
* Generation Rent
* Housing LIN
* Ian Mearns MP
* Independent Age
* Jim Cunningham MP
* Karbon Homes
* Karen Buck MP
* Kirklees Council
* Local Government Association
* Lord Best
* Melanie Onn MP
* Ms. Maggie Ellis
* National Landlords Association
* Northern Housing Consortium
* Older People’s Housing Champions Network
* Professor Christine Whitehead
* Residential Landlord Association
* Retirement Home Builders Group
* Royal College of Occupational Therapists
* Shelter
* The Almshouse Association
* The Printing Charity
* UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence
* Versus Arthrits

The chances of any reform being enacted in the interest of old people either living in or, in the future, avoiding living in substandard accommodation in Brexit obsessed Britain : ZERO