Over the age limit

Opposition to the scrapping of wardens in sheltered housing run by local authorities and housing associations, and the campaign by leaseholders to cut the cost of care services levied by one of Britain’s biggest private developers of retirement homes, are just two recent examples of unhappiness – and a growing militancy – among older people about the way their housing is being managed.

The over-65s make up about 16 per cent of the population – that’s about 10 million people in a population of 61 million – and pensioners groups are poised to step up protests as the pressure on housing mounts as a result of the recession. A rapid rise in life expectancy means the number of over-65s is set to grow faster than any other age group – and the threat of ‘grey power’ could be felt more widely as older people are hit by the squeeze on public spending and recession-hit private developers show reluctance to take on a bigger role.