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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:

havingtochangeusernameagain · 22/03/2019 15:58

Why on earth should I

Because it would be a socially responsible thing to do.

I live in a road near a school. My ds is now 16. It would be nice if we now moved house away from the school catchment area because we don't need it anymore. We won't do it right now but I certainly don't see the sense in hogging a house in a desirable school catchment area if I don't need it anymore.

Fazackerley · 22/03/2019 15:59

Because it would be a socially responsible thing to do

Tough.

BIWI · 22/03/2019 16:04

Because it would be a socially responsible thing to do

Why? Because some special snowflake millennial types think they are entitled to my house, which I worked hard to be able to afford?

How on earth is that socially responsible?

Fazackerley · 22/03/2019 16:09

To be honest, if I downsized it would make precisely zero difference to the housing market, as my current house is worth a lot. If you have that kind of money to spend then there are plenty of houses that would fit the bill, in this area anyway.

Fazackerley · 22/03/2019 16:11

So if I downsized to a nice 2 bed terrace in a village near the coast, all I'd be doing is depriving the young family who wanted a nice 2 bed terrace.

Better to stay put!

StoneofDestiny · 22/03/2019 16:20

because it would be a socially responsible thing to do

Bollox.
Giving up the home you have worked for all your young life to give to someone who hasn't put a lifetime of work into earning it, but just happens to be younger is not socially responsible. It's ridiculous. Why not get them to hand over their wages or their pension to a random youngster too!

Get your finger pointed at the vast acres of prime real estate owned by the royal family and their hangers on - endless houses, endless rooms and all based on unearned income. Don't criticise hard working people who have at last got somewhere they want to live in the style they want to live.

hogging a house in a desirable school catchment area

Geez - whatever next. People should move house just so some person who chose to have kids wants them in a certain school! Whatever next.
If all the homes around the 'desirable' school had no kids in them, the catchment area would be widened to the next area. Might it not be that the people like their home and area for reasons other than the local school?

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 22/03/2019 16:33

hogging a house in a desirable school catchment area

Is this serious? What a horrible thing to say

longearedbat · 22/03/2019 16:50

I live in a desirable school catchment area. I am retired without children. In fact, there are no families with primary school children in this road for the simple reason the prices are beyond the pocket of the average young family who might be on their first or second house. Unless of course we are also supposed to sell our houses at discounted prices for these people who believe they have more right to them.

TurquoiseDress · 22/03/2019 17:06

This does my nut in when I’m sat browsing with OH 😂 “WOW look at this one! So cheap! 4 beds! Recently refurbished! Walk in wardrobe! Massive gard- oh. Home wise.”

@Ells0204

Snap! This is exactly how I feel when I see them on Rightmove
I get excited then realise it's not on the open market

This was my train of thought when I replied to the thread

And reading more about what these schemes involve, it doesn't sound that great in some ways.

For me, I really have absolutely no issue with over 55/60s selling up/downsizing or remaining in their homes- they can do what they like, obviously.

AlexaAmbidextra · 22/03/2019 17:11

Because it would be a socially responsible thing to do.

Tough shit! I’ll live with it.

ncagain222 · 22/03/2019 17:15

YANBU. I always have a fleeting moment of excitement when I see these properties, thinking I’ve finally found a lovely home in my price range - and then I spot the over-60s only bit...

Nessy1977 · 22/03/2019 17:15

Sadly a lot of under under 55s are only going to be able to afford the bigger houses when and if an inheritance comes their way from the sale of their parents' (baby boomer) houses. Who can blame Generation X for buying the first decent sized house they have ever been able to afford when they're rather less than spring chickens!

JinglingHellsBells · 22/03/2019 17:36

@havingtochangeusernameagain

so if you moved away from a house you 'don't need now' would you stipulate that you would sell only to a family who needed to be in that catchment area- and they would have to do the same, ad infinitum?

So you only bought your house to get your kids into the school?

You could be accused of fuelling social inequality yourself, by having moved into a house in a good catchment area, so you were in fact buying your children a better education by being able to afford the house in the first place.

Christ, we're going down a dictatorship route if people start saying at X age you have to sell your home and move into a box. 60? You do realise people now work till they are 67?

Why not just shoot us all and then there will be lots of empty houses for everyone to buy.

StoneofDestiny · 22/03/2019 18:06

I regularly get fleeting moments of excitement when I see homes entirely suitable for my needs in a place I'd love to live........then I realise I can't afford them.
It's called life.

Flicketyflack · 22/03/2019 18:12

We have been house hunting and there are every house, without exception, has been owned by a one or two over 60's downsizing.

They are the generation who got rich on property and good pension returns!

Being in this position is very fortunate but there is no needs to resent people good fortune.

OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 22/03/2019 18:22

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

The entitlement of some Millennials never fails to amaze me.

MillyCoddler · 22/03/2019 21:24

They are the generation who got rich on property and good pension returns

Really? Shit where's my wealth and good pension?

DishingOutDone · 22/03/2019 23:04

longearedbat " Unless of course we are also supposed to sell our houses at discounted prices for these people who believe they have more right to them "

I genuinely think that some people on this thread think that's what should happen, without a shadow of a doubt.

Samcro · 22/03/2019 23:09

WTF so much agism on here,
not every over 60 is sitting pretty with a good pension (good on those who have one)
I hope the people slagging them off are paying BIG into theirs

DishingOutDone · 22/03/2019 23:15

if people over 60 are getting larger homes at a fraction of the price just due to age then I don't agree with that, no

Where is this? I'd like a larger house at a fraction the price just due my age please, I am nearly 60, I want to put my name down. Where is this place? Obviously I will then give my existing 3 bed semi to a young person who is more entitled. I mean I could sell it to them, but seeing as they are entitled to it, and I'm getting the larger house at a fraction of the price, that would just be grabby.

BTW how are we allowed to feel about over 60s who DON'T own a home? Is there a little contempt left over for them?

Samcro · 22/03/2019 23:18

DishingOutDone omg do you mean me?? we don't. caring for a disabled chid fucked that one up.
but we have a nice detached wheelchair accessible one(HA) .
oh no they will want that one now.

Original poster

NononoLimit · 23/03/2019 01:39

DishingOutDone I don't think anyone should be discounted purely due to their age, if that makes you feel better.

I just didn't understand why there seemed to be so many houses that stipulated over 60s only before and understand it now.

OP posts:

DishingOutDone · 23/03/2019 09:14

But nobody IS getting a discount due to their age. You thought something was happening purely because you were unable or unwilling to click on a link on a website and read a few lines of text. Now you've found out "IT" isn't happening, you've argued on your own thread that its still wrong.

FFS.

woollyheart · 23/03/2019 09:24

I'm sure over 60s who actually want to buy the houses that you are describing will have to pay the higher price for outright ownership, same as everyone else.

If they only want a limited lease for their own life, then it is cheaper. But I doubt many over 60s are falling for this 'fantastic ' deal!

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