More than half of UK homeowners would consider moving into specialist housing in later life – but a shortage of local options is holding back demand, according to new research from ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators) and the HomeOwners Alliance.
Blueprint New Zealand: What People Want reveals strong public backing for key features of New Zealand-style housing-with-care schemes – known in the UK as ‘Integrated Retirement Communities’ – such as fixed monthly fees.
Strong demand – but supply falling short
The research shows clear appetite for specialist housing among homeowners:
- 51% of homeowners would consider specialist housing for themselves
- 53% would consider it for a family member
- Even among over-75s, 41% would consider moving
However, supply is not keeping up with demand:
- 53% of interested homeowners say there are not enough suitable homes in their local area. Regionally, homeowners in the Midlands (51%), East of England (50%), and Scotland (48%) are most likely to say there are not enough specialist homes for older people, compared with 35% of homeowners in the South East.
This gap highlights a significant opportunity to expand provision and better meet the needs of an ageing population.
What homeowners want: certainty, support and simplicity
The research identifies the top three things homeowners say would make later-life housing more attractive:
- Simplicity – operators taking on full risk and responsibility for maintenance and investment
- Certainty – fixed monthly fees that rise only with inflation
- Reassurance – dedicated consumer regulation to protect residents
Interestingly, only 6% say variable service charges would make retirement housing more attractive.
Services: Safety and healthcare are top priorities
When it comes to services, practical support and peace of mind dominate. The top three services homeowner say will make retirement housing more attractive are:
- A staff member onsite 24/7 for emergencies
- Access to healthcare and wellness services
- Guaranteed personal care if needed
These findings reinforce the importance of housing models that integrate care, community and support, such as Integrated Retirement Communities.
Toward a Retirement Occupancy Lease
The research findings support proposals to expand UK provision of Integrated Retirement Communities drawing on successful international models such as New Zealand. Around 15% of over-75s in New Zealand already live in this type of housing and two of the three largest housebuilders are retirement village operators.
ARCO has previously published innovative tenure proposals to deliver on its Blueprint New Zealand vision for the Integrated Retirement Community sector. ARCO’s plans for a ‘Retirement Occupancy Lease’ reproduces key features of New Zealand’s contract-based tenure for housing-with-care and could be a stepping-stone toward it.
Commenting on the research findings, Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance says:
“What stands out is that people want certainty and support: fixed costs, professional management and access to care. If we are serious about helping people live well for longer, we need to see a New Zealand step-change in the supply of high-quality housing-with-care.
The HomeOwners Alliance is very interested in ARCO’s proposals for a Retirement Occupancy Lease. We particularly like the idea of all providers of new housing-with-care having ‘skin in the game’ when it comes to resale prices.”
Michael Voges, Chief Executive of ARCO said:
“Britain urgently needs more high-quality housing-with-care for older people. This research shows homeowners want more choice, more certainty and more support in later life — but provision is still falling far short.
“Expanding Integrated Retirement Communities would not only give older people better options to live independently with care and support close at hand, it would deliver major benefits for the whole country.
Matching New Zealand’s level of provision could help deliver 600,000 new homes, save the NHS £2 billion a year, and reduce social care costs by £1.2 billion annually. One way to do
Image depicts the ARCO logo