Pensioner tenants face rise in evictions and homelessness

THERE has been a significant rise in the number of older people with housing difficulties, two charities have said.

Alone, which represents older people, and Threshold, which advocates for those with housing difficulties, have reported working with increasing numbers of older people in relation to eviction notices, high rents, poor housing conditions and homelessness.

Alone said there had been a 40% increase in older people experiencing housing difficulties in 2023 compared with the previous year.

The number of older people in private rental accommodation had almost doubled between 2016 and 2022, according to Census figures.

The charities urged the Government to implement the recommendations in their report, published last May, called Double Deficit.

It found that older and ageing renters faced both a deficit in the private rental sector in relation to affordability, quality and security as well as a strategic deficit, in the form of a plan for the growing cohort of the population.

The report advised the Government to ensure 25% of social housing is for older people, to continue to invest in the housing adaptation grant scheme, to provide incentives for private landlords, and to ensure the adequacy of the State pension. Ann-Marie O’Reilly, national advocacy manager at Threshold, said: ‘The Census data tells us that the number of people over 65 renting from a private landlord increased by 83% between 2016 and 2022. That is almost 7,700 additional renters over 65 living in the private rental sector, which, in its current form, is not suitable for ageing and older renters, as shown by the research.

‘To realise the recommendations in this report and to make certain that this Government, and all future governments, are committed to ensuring that all, young and old, have a secure, affordable place to call home, the right to housing must be enshrined in our Constitution.’