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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Rightmove - Over 60s Only

124 replies

NononoLimit · 22/03/2019 10:05

I'm prepared to get flamed here but I'm searching for a new home and I keep seeing lovely 3 bedroom properties which are over 60s only; massive gardens (some with multiple levels but all have to be mown), 3 big bedrooms and cannot help feel the amount of these over 60s only properties (there are loads the further out of London you look) could be going to families in need of housing.

I totally understand over 60s properties are necessary, especially at an affordable price due to people no longer being able to get mortgages, etc. However, I expected that on a different type of property, perhaps 1 or 2 bedrooms with smaller gardens.

My thoughts on it are everyone I know over 60 wants a manageable property and apart from family staying, the over 60s I know are all downsizing for the future. I don't get it but I'm prepared to be enlightened...? AIBU?

OP posts:

Kpo58 · 22/03/2019 12:52

Why do people when they get to 60 suddenly need loads of extra bedroom and entertaining space?

Surely people with younger children need it more. You can't pack a load of 4 year olds off to the Travelodge for a sleep over, neither can a bunch of 7 year olds hang out down the pub and play.

longearedbat · 22/03/2019 12:58

@Kpo58 because we have family who visit and we entertain, perhaps? Or do you think we should just squash into a tiny space and die? Ageism is alive and well on mumsnet.

TheHero · 22/03/2019 13:05

Generally speaking though the equity release interest payments are outweighed by the increase in the property value, so you'd have a much better idea of the cost/benefit than with a lifetime lease.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean, but the 50% mum was looking at keeping was based on the value at time it sells, so she/we would have benefited from the increase in property value too.

Did HW recommend a solicitor or did you find one independently?

I think mum spoke with one she'd used before (she is a creature of habit) but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Interesting to hear your view too; as I said in a previous post, there's positives and negatives to all these kind of products, and it seems that one must consider whether it is right for one's own circumstances.

For us, the Home wise option seemed to tick the boxes as it would have given her more purchasing power and it was more about moving than raising cash. Using them she could have moved to something she might not have been able to afford otherwise, but had it been about raising cash and staying put we would have looked at other options.

I suppose my wife and I were of the opinion that we'd rather she used her assets to enjoy herself irrespective of whether it reduces inheritance for us; ultimately its her money and therefore her choice.

Ironic that all that said she decided not to move at all in the end though!

pootyisabadcat · 22/03/2019 13:12

Surely you realise that over 60s can also have older/adult children living with them, have more time and money to host overnight guests or grandchildren staying over and may prefer to entertain in their own home rather than a pub or a fucking Travelodge. That sense of entitlement is truly phenomenal. Cut your cloth! Don't expect others to do so for you or presume you're more entitled to anything just due to your age or having a 'young family', that was your choice and lookout! When we did, we had to make sacrifices as well. That's life!

pootyisabadcat · 22/03/2019 13:13

Retirement age is rising and plenty of us, having been made redundant or unable to do physical jobs we used to do FT, now run side businesses from home - love our home office!

SilverySurfer · 22/03/2019 13:16

Chlo1674
Yes all over 60s should only be allowed to live in a shoebox to make way for the entitled millennial generation confused

Yep, I'm Kondo-ing all my possessions before squeezing them into my shoebox. It will be a bit snug after I squeeze in in the garden

NC0301191141 · 22/03/2019 13:27

You're right about Shared Ownership in London OP. I'm in NW London and have just looked up the new SO properties near us. 2 bed flat on shared ownership (percentage of ownership isn't listed) = £485,000! Madness!

MillyCoddler · 22/03/2019 13:33

I hate how the housing shortage is pitting the generations against each other. It's the government we should be directing our anger towards towards, not each other.

thedisorganisedmum · 22/03/2019 13:42

I do agree with the premise that if you don't need a big house it would be nice if you'd sell it

Qualify"need".

My grand-parents are long past the 60s mark, and would tell you they need their house to fit all their belongings, need all the spare rooms to accomodate family when they visit and so on.

If I was leaving alone, I would still need at the very least a 3 bed house .(whether I can afford it is another matter entirely)

Fazackerley · 22/03/2019 13:47

"Why do people when they get to 60 suddenly need loads of extra bedroom and entertaining space?"

Because I like entertaining and having guests to stay and I own my house?

Fazackerley · 22/03/2019 13:49

Also, we bought it pre kids, so its done its job of entertaining small people. I expect when we pop our clogs it will do the same for someone else.

AlexaAmbidextra · 22/03/2019 13:50

And then I think to myself, why would an over 60 need to have a discounted property? If they are selling their current property, surely they will have benefited massively from house price inflation over the years?

TurquoiseDress. You could try reading the entire thread and you will realise that nobody is offering those ‘over privileged over 60s’ discounted properties.

BIWI · 22/03/2019 13:52

Why do people when they get to 60 suddenly need loads of extra bedroom and entertaining space?

Because my lifestyle, family composition and needs will remain the same when I turn 60 as they are now I'm 59.

Really there are some people who must find that thinking really hurts.

AlexaAmbidextra · 22/03/2019 14:02

I do agree with the premise that if you don't need a big house it would be nice if you'd sell it

Some posters on here have got a fucking nerve. I don’t need to justify why I intend to stay in my house now I am incredibly old and decrepit. 66 actually. Over the years I’ve done my time in one bedroom flats and small houses. I’ve worked hard and having gone through a couple of relationship breakdowns I haven’t profited hugely from the housing market as I’ve twice had to start from scratch. The size of my garden doesn’t matter as I pay someone to do it for me, ditto house maintenance. So no, I won’t be moving from my home to enable a young family to have it. Why on earth should I?

wink1970 · 22/03/2019 14:28

Over 60 + Homewise = They sell the property as part of an equity release scheme. I agree they should be banned from Rightmove. OP, for you it means you can't afford the houses at full value, otherwise they would be coming up 'normally' in your search.

Over 60 + designated housing = part of the planning permission was for homes for that age group, just as some homes are designated for part purchase, or social housing. You can filter these out on Rightmove too.

pootyisabadcat · 22/03/2019 15:16

Hear, hear, Alexa! Years of living in flat listening to noise on all sides, the fuck I'm going back to that or teeny houses with no storage, room for crafts, office space, overnight guests.

Lungelady · 22/03/2019 15:24

Clearly all us 60 year olds should crawl off and live under a stone.

TheHero · 22/03/2019 15:28

wink1970

It's not equity release; please see my previous post :)

Samcro · 22/03/2019 15:30

the agism on this thread is out standing. 60 isn't that old you know,
why should people who have worked hard, sell up just to help people younger? crazy(and I don't own as been a carer forever)

SilverySurfer · 22/03/2019 15:33

I was going to say that I can't wait until the millenials turn 60 and get treated the same way by the then younger generation except I won't be around to see it

H0wt0kn0w · 22/03/2019 15:36

I agree about ageism. 60 is not 80. 60 year olds can drag a hoover upstairs.

I am looking foeward to space and luxury when my kids are older

StoneofDestiny · 22/03/2019 15:43

Geez - having lived in sleazy rentals in dodgy areas, bought a tiny first home mortgaged to the hilt and unable to heat it, worked my butt off and saved, had a cheapo wedding and had my kids later in life so I had a career that would sustain us all and then bought 'projects' to renovate over years in order to move up the housing ladder.........like hell am I moving into a small place so 'some young person with kids' can have my house.
At last I have the home I want, in the place I want it and have room to entertain and enjoy my friends and family visiting. I didn't have it when I was young, I have it now after a long sweaty slog.

BeerandBiscuits · 22/03/2019 15:51

Why do people when they get to 60 suddenly need loads of extra bedroom and entertaining space?

It's not always about need, it can be a choice.
A lot of people would love to have a big house and garden if they could afford it. Especially if they were retired and had the time to enjoy it.
I would, even if I was over 60 and living on my own. I'd have a cleaner and gardener as well .

havingtochangeusernameagain · 22/03/2019 15:54

I do agree with the premise that if you don't need a big house it would be nice if you'd sell it

All of you picking up on this predictably ignored my further comment "at any age".

Never mind.

Go back and read my FULL comment again. Sigh.

CoffeeRunner · 22/03/2019 15:56

I don't think we have this scheme here - all of the properties marketed as "Over 60's" or more usually "Over 55's" are soulless tiny new build flats.

There are usually a few houses that seem unrealistically cheap - but when you read the details very carefully, you'll see that they are available on shared ownership as an option and the price quoted is for 25%.

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