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LGA responds to Independent Age report on older private renters

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to a report by Independent Age which suggests that older private renters are “invisible” in policy decisions on housing and age-related issues

“With housing for elderly people currently accounting for just 6 per cent of our existing stock, and more older people and families renting privately than ever before, there needs to be a national focus on tackling a chronic shortage of homes suitable to support our ageing population and reforms that will maintain and improve housing standards.

“Many councils are already tackling issues in the private rental sector by bringing in landlord licensing schemes, but councils need more freedom and flexibility in establishing such schemes to help ensure homes are maintained to a high standard so tenants of all ages know they are living in a decent, safe and secure home.

“Giving councils the freedom to borrow and invest in building new housing and retain receipts from Right to Buy sales in full so they can replace homes sold, will help them meet the health needs of their older residents.

“The Government’s forthcoming social care green paper needs to take account of a clear link between housing, health and social care. More funding for councils to invest in cost-effective prevention work, including making housing adaptations, will enable older and disabled people to live at home independently and for longer, keeping them fit and well and out of hospital.

“Fall prevention programmes can reduce the number of falls requiring hospital admission by nearly a quarter and produce a financial return on investment of more than £3 for every £1 spent. This will help reduce the number of hospital admissions due to an older person falling which we have recently warned is set to rise to nearly 1,000 a day by the end of the decade.”

Notes to editor

Falls prevention programmes based on home assessment and modification schemes for elderly people have shown to reduce the number of falls requiring hospital admission over two years by an estimated 23 per cent. They also produce a financial return on investment of £3.17 for every £1 spent, and a societal (quality of life) return of £7.34 for every £1 spent.

A Return on Investment Tool for the Assessment of Falls Prevention Programmes for Older People Living in the Community (PHE) (Page 44)

View report https://www.independentage.org/news-media/press-releases/half-a-million-older-private-renters-are-invisible-and-are-overlooked-by

Original article link: https://www.local.gov.uk/about/news/lga-responds-independent-age-report-older-private-renters

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