Finding suitable housing

[SunnySomer]

Hello
just after some advice around how to search for accommodation for elderly DF. He’s totally compos mentis and very independent but is increasingly immobile.
He sees the need to move out of his home which is tall and only has upstairs toilet/bathroom, but I’m finding it difficult to work out what the options are. He cannot afford the very chi-chi retirement apartments near me by a very long way (they’re clearly aimed at couples downsizing from million pound properties), and he’s reluctant to buy from McCarthy and Stone… but there is virtually nothing there to rent. what kind of searches do I need to be putting into google? I’m not sure he’d qualify for a council apartment as too well off and would be relocating- do councils “allow” this? I’m finding it tricky to find a happy medium.
your wisdom and experience would be much appreciated! Thanks

www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/what-we-offer/occupancy-options/rentals/

If you Google retirement rent you get a few rental sites.

Would getting a stair lift in his house be an option? He could then get upstairs easily.

Thank you. The M&S ones near me are SO expensive and he’d be moving from a much cheaper area so wouldn’t have a vast pot of money. God this is depressing, trying to juggle how much longer he’ll live with the funds available.

OMG I followed that link £££ in our area. By the time you've paid food and bills not a lot different to a care home. Possibly even more expensive!

Could you do a RightMove property search for rental properties in his/your area and then press the filter option 'retirement homes'? In my area two places come up, but more come up the further the radius.

In my area (SE) there seems to be a way of buying a property at a lower rate for those over 55, guessing some kind of equity release scheme, and retirement flats are usually much cheaper

It's a real problem OP. I'm approaching retirement and have been looking for a bungalow to downsize to.

They are like hens teeth so I've bought a tiny plot of land and applied for planning permission to build one.

Housing policy badly needs a rethink in this country. 🙁

Try looking at extra care housing, there's not an income limit for self pay here

Thank you all! Definitely agree housing policy needs a rethink. I hadn’t really thought about it till now - and it’s all a complex system to navigate.