All old people should sell up family homes for families.

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Not really an AIBU, more a hypothetical question really. This view comes up a lot on MN, and I'm interested in the detail of what people actually imagine when they say it. What type of property should they be giving up? What type of property should they be moving to? How old is old? What about younger people who under occupy a property? For example 2 friend couples, have recently downsized. Both from a 4 bed detached, one to a 4 bed semi, and the other to a 3 bed semi. Their homes were bought, one by a young professional couple, and the other by a couple in their seventies, themselves downsizing. If you hold this view what do you visualise?

We are in our 50's and own a 3 bed Victorian terrace in a city. It's not really that adaptable to old old age, but will likely be fine for the early retirement phase (if we make it to 67 🤞). But we will be settled in this is area and at mid 70s making a move is much harder ne erv mind the fact that adaptable accomodation is simply not available within our area. What the hell do we do. We can't move now (kids still at home, work etc). Moving at retirement will be costly and unnecessary and when we need a flat/something else we'll be old and incapable....

Does your nan own her home?

It's not really an issue of age. It's more an issue of under occupation. I'd support a property tax with a direct link to the value of the house - say 1% per annum phased in over some time as other elements of fiscal policy changed (in particular reductions in other taxes). People would be more inclined to think about moving out of houses too big for their needs if there was money to be saved.

There’s currently 15.5 million over 60s in the UK now (16.9m by 2035) and last year England built 1200 bungalows. Where are they supposed to downsize to? Round where I live crappy 2 bed bungalows start at 450k because there are so few of them.

My 76yo FIL is rattling around in a 5 bed house on his own which he hasn’t updated since the 1970s, so is worth about 400k. He can’t downsize be cause he can’t afford a smaller appropriate property and all the costs. It’s mad no one is planning for having such a massive elderly population.

Well this is simply taxing an old person out of their home. What of they have spent every penny on buying the house and paying off the mortgage but will have little in retirement, little but enough along with growing vegetables etc.
Taxing them out of their home, or reclaiming their asset by deferring. Absolutely despicable.

DF died earlier this year, DSM is alone in a large 4 bed detached. Although she wants to remain for the time being (she isn't ready to move away from their home) I think she eventually wants to downsize.

The estate agents she has spoken to, testing the waters, have all said there is a shortage of bungalows (which is what she would want). She wants at least 1 spare room and a garden. When they do come up a 3 bed bungalow costs about the same as 4 bed detached. The demand is there but developers just aren't building bungalows.

Yes

Then she has every right to enjoy the home she built and paid for, clutter and all.
I cannot understand how there is this notion that elderly people that OWN their own homes should downsize, it is their home, they paid for it, they own it.

Housing association is completely different.

As an older person who has recently downsized I would like to ban families from buying bungalows!

But how does that work when some 4 bed houses are only £300k and some 2 beds are £800k depending where you live, families in small houses could be paying a high tax and still be over occupied

Building more social housing is the only answer - funded by Central and Local Govt - over time the rents collected more than repay the costs of building.

Create legislation so that all 'land-banked' ground (ie: undeveloped land with PP) can be Compulsory Purchased by Govt for 100% social housing.

How desirable now are those well-built post war 'Council Estate' homes built onto the outskirts of nearly every city, town and village - very desirable- compared to the ill-built shoebox, cram-em in private development homes, with a smattering of 'affordable' dwellings or baksheesh (s.106/CIL) to the Local Council to dwindle away...

No getting sniffy about prefabs - I've lived in 3 - all still habitable 40 years after they were built.

And I'm wanting to downsize my family-sized home before I get 'old, old' - why wouldn't I - too much dusting and cleaning, when I could be 'out,out' instead.

It’s not just “a” family home. It’s “their”HOME! I never understand how/why people feel entitled to other peoples property!
Whats old?

I never understand this idea but it seems to be suggested a lot.

Putting aside moral issues, where are older people meant to go? There isn't anywhere near enough suitable housing for them even if they do want to move.

There are two couples on my road (all 4 bed detached houses with big gardens) who wanted to downsize last year but 3 bed bungalows cost more (around £600k) than their houses (£500k).

One of the 3 bed bungalows that sold last summer has now been torn down and someone is building a 4 bed house there.

I did my time in a houseshare when I was young. I won't be going back to living with other people underfoot.

I think more elderly people should live together so they can support each other and give each other company

I'd rather pour bleach in my eyes than share a living space with a bunch of randomers, why would I suddenly like the idea just because I'm old?

My husband and I owned a large home not suitable for our retirement. We bought a derelict bungalow and now have a rather glorious house overlooking the Thames with 5 bedrooms one of which is on the ground floor. The present study could easily become a carer’s bedroom. Our house remains family sized because we love having all our family together.

Putting aside moral issues, where are older people meant to go?

Well there are some people who'd quite like the older generation to just hurry up and die. There were several posts expressing this sentiment (or at least barely disguising it) on another thread earlier this week.

@Remotecontrolatmyside · Today 20:07

I think more elderly people should live together so they can support each other and give each other company. Life is easier when you have a community. This would have the added bonus of sharing bills so would be cheaper and would also free up homes so less house building would be needed so we'd all have more green spaces.

PMSL 😆 YEAH SURE ... I am sure YOU will be doing that when you're 60!

In the world of fantasy and TV and the movies this works beautifully, in real life it would be a fucking nightmare. As @JudgeAnderson so beautifully put it......

I'd rather pour bleach in my eyes than share a living space with a bunch of randoms, why would I suddenly like the idea just because I'm old?

It is true that no matter if you own, rent private or social that you can only down or up size depending on what's available.

Generally, bungalows are expensive because they use land inefficiently; whilst I understand the reasons for them in pre-tech times, it now isn't the only option for those of us who are aged or physically disabled. I cant see a reason why I couldn't downsize to a smaller house and get a stairlift (eg) to get me up the stairs if needed.

Less House, More Light, Garden Essential, Mortgage Free is my Mantra.
I'm currently 60, due to retire on State Pension at 67.

This. ^ Some vile posts on a few threads this week. Saying all older people should basically fuck off and die. (Give their home to someone younger first though!)

And of course they had it made as younger people! Never suffered, never worked hard, had shit handed to them on a plate, never struggled financially, never struggled to pay their mortgage, never had high mortgage rates, and found raising their kids a piece of piss because they had soooooooo much surplus cash, and all essential electrical goods were sooooooooo much cheaper, and everyone was just tickety boo!

Fucking clueless ignoramuses. NONE of the above is true/WAS true for most people. When will this batshit myth ever fuck off?! That all people born mid 1960s or earlier had an easy fucking ride.

And yes, I am actively putting the 'feelers' out to those I know in similar positions that maybe we (?) should all buy a large property together and split it into individual properties whilst supporting each other as we grow old.

I'm nearly 61 and truly need my own 'space' too, just like a few people I know who aren't random to me at all.

The main hindrance to this concept is location and commitments - by the age of 60 it's pretty rare not to have any - so where could this property be?

Actually maybe all 'old people' should sell up and use the money to go travelling or spend it all before they die and not leave any inheritance?

And very well said Purple - it's time these youngsters brought up on SM myths learned a bit of actual 'reality'.

Thankfully my own young adult DS isn't like that having been through more than enough unecessary hardship and unfairness already (via SEN).

Therefore I'm also thinking of selling up completely, pay off small mortgage, give most to DS to get him into a property of his own, setting up his support and just as Wanda suggests use the balance to go off 'travelling' before I get old, old.

😘