Councils to help elderly rent out homes

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by Gill Montia

Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, is calling on councils to give elderly people more choice and control over where they live, so they are not forced into selling homes that no longer meet their needs.

Under the FreeSpace project piloted by the London Borough of Redbridge, elderly homeowners are being helped to downsize into rented accommodation, but without selling-up.

The council is arranging for them to move into more suitable rented accommodation and is then taking responsibility for maintaining and letting their property at an affordable rate.

Homeowners benefit from the rental income and their properties will be passed back to their estate at an agreed date.

Ministers have hailed the project as a future model for councils across the country, as it helps the elderly keep their homes while increasing the availability of affordable family homes.

Mr Shapps has also allocated an additional £20 million for Disabled Facilities Grants, bringing the total to £200 million this year.

The grants enable councils to fund adaptations to homes that help people live independently, saving them from an unnecessary stay in hospital or going into residential care.

Mr Shapps comments: “With nearly a fifth of our population expected to be over 65 by 2020, radical and urgent change is needed to ensure the nation’s housing needs are met.”

He adds: “So I would urge all councils to look at the range of opportunities under our new deal for older people, which is backed with millions of pounds of Government cash, to ensure elderly people in their area get the help they deserve.”