APPG on Housing and Care for Older People Update

Session Three: APPG on Housing and Care for Older People

Abbeyfield Chief Executive Paul Tennant, Head of Development & Relationships Abdul A. Ravat and Abbeyfield Wessex Society CEO Vanessa Booker-Card were delighted to attend the third session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People Inquiry yesterday at the House of Lords. The Inquiry, sponsored by Abbeyfield with secretariat provided by Housing LIN, aims to explore the best ways to regenerate our existing stock of outdated sheltered housing to meet the expectations of the 21st century.

Chaired by Lord Best, yesterday’s session brought together a diverse group of sector leaders to delve into the topics of demolition, replacement and repurposing of outdated sheltered housing.

The session welcomed representatives from Anchor, Metropolitan Thames Valley Homes and PRP, who shared their unique approaches to customer expectation, regeneration, new builds and innovative design.

The discussions cut across the competing challenges and priorities that housing providers are experiencing in retaining and regenerating obsolete older person schemes. It was noted that merely being reliant on the rental income to bridge the subsidy gap (when rents increases are effectively capped) is not going to enable scale up. Therefore, without grant support, more stock will be unable to be retained and providers will be forced to resort to disposal options. This compounds the lack of affordable housing choice for those on modest means, who will grow in significant numbers in the coming years.

The session recognised the importance of unlocking this with conversations with Homes England, Greater London Authority and the Regulator of Social Housing "to create places for older people".

The Inquiry is actively seeking evidence related to sheltered/retirement housing in both the social and private sectors, encompassing various tenures such as social rent, affordable rent, leasehold, sale and shared ownership.

This session marks the third of five before the call for evidence concludes on Friday 9^th February 2024

You can find out more about the specifics of the evidence sought by the inquiry and submit your contributions by emailing this document to the Inquiry Secretariat at research@housinglin.org.uk

The Abbeyfield Society is proud to act as sponsor for the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People Inquiry on the Regeneration of Outdated Sheltered Housing.