Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Strategy. Read the original article for full details.
Older Renters Face Shortage of Suitable Homes, Propertymark Warns
Disabled and older renters are experiencing increasing difficulties in finding suitable accommodation, according to Propertymark. The professional body for estate and letting agents has highlighted that the supply of bungalows and retirement properties is not keeping up with the rapid growth in older households across the UK.
Propertymark reports that nearly 867,000 households headed by someone aged 55 or over are now living in England’s private rented sector. The organisation expects demand for suitable homes to rise sharply as the population ages over the next decade. Households headed by someone aged 65 or over are projected to increase by 22.1% by 2032, with the number of households aged 65-74 expected to grow from 3.3 million in 2022 to more than 4 million by 2032. Households headed by someone aged 85 or over are forecast to rise by 42.3%, increasing from 1.1 million to 1.5 million over the same period.
Despite this growing demand, Propertymark’s research found that the supply of privately rented bungalows and retirement properties has continued to decline year on year. In 2024, there were 17,225 bungalows and retirement properties rented, falling by 0.8% to 17,083 in 2025. This follows an overall decline of 4.2% since 2023, when the figure stood at 17,827.
Regional analysis revealed significant disparities. Nottingham saw listings fall from 538 to 494 properties, Sheffield dropped from 202 to 166 available homes, and Manchester decreased from 173 to 167 listings. In contrast, Brighton rose from 513 to 566 properties available to rent, Exeter increased from 417 to 446, Newcastle climbed from 277 to 310, and Inner London rose from 265 to 289.
Propertymark says the shortage of suitable homes risks limiting mobility and independence for older renters, particularly those on fixed or lower incomes, and places additional pressure on the wider housing supply.
Source: Mortgage Strategy