Older People's Housing Taskforce inaugural meeting Tues 16 May

The first meeting of the new task force for older people’s housing took place this morning with the Housing and Care Ministers both present and giving this their strong personal commitment. I’m delighted both as an architect, and as Chair of RHG that this excellent initiative is on the way, and that the special housing needs of older people are finally being fully recognised. It’s a very strong group of specialists and I look forward to working with them all over the next year.

Richard at RHG press release on the launch of the Task Force on Older People’s Housing

The Retirement Housing Group have issued a Press Release on the launch of the Task Force on Older People’s Housing.

To read this in full please click on the image below:

Press Release

Richard at RHG reports to the Minister for Social Care

The Retirement Housing Group recently provided a report to Housing Minister, Lucy Frazer MP which showed that:

• The total supply of specialist housing for older people has not kept pace with the aging population, falling 21% between 2015 and 2021.

• Supply per head is much higher in the South East, South West and London meaning residents in much of the Midland and the North of the country – key levelling up areas – face poor housing choices in later life.

The report argues the importance of addressing both the shortfall and the imbalance so that people in all parts of the country have the housing options they need in later years, and stressed that this should be a key part of Government agenda with regards to levelling up, bringing the considerable social and economic benefits linked to specialist retirement housing to parts of the country that most need it.

The RHG believes that the provision of specialist housing for older people needs to increase to 30,000 units per year (10% of the government’s housing target), up from the current provision of c. 7000 units per year.

RHG have suggested Four Key asks of policy makers which are set out in the report and are intended to help proactively plan specialist older persons housing.

Here are Richard’s letter to the Minister as chair of RHG, the report itself , and the Minister’s very positive response.

LETTER TO MINISTER

RHG REPORT

RESPONSE

Stamp Duty Success

Richard, in his role as chair of Retirement Housing Group, was among the signatories of a recent letter to the Chancellor requesting a reduction in Stamp Duty, and was delighted with yesterday’s confirmation that the suggested change will be put in place immediately.

Richard becomes Chair of the RHG

Richard has recently taken over the Chair of the Retirement Housing Group; the largest and most widely representative trade association in the older people’s housing sector, with a membership including major providers, advisory bodies and specialist consultants.

The group has recently been co-ordinating sector-wide talks on how best to deal with the threat of Coronavirus, and regular meetings with Care Minister Helen Whately and her team.