1. Havering’s Older Persons Housing Strategy
An overview
Keith Andrews
Housing Partnerships & Development Manager
21 July 2014

2. Demographics
2011 Census says Havering has highest proportion of older people in any London Borough
17.8% of the population in Havering is over 65
Age band 65+ will grow by 16% by 2021 and 90+ will grow by 70% by 2021
2012 Havering Housing Needs and Demand Assessment says
73% of Havering older people own their own home
85% over 65 declared equity of £100k+
45% have savings less than £5k
Asset rich – cash poor

3. Strategy Key Priorities
Research older persons housing needs and aspirations and re assess extra care need in Havering
Support independent living
Assist older people wishing to downsize
Develop new older persons housing

4. Research older persons housing needs and aspirations
Majority of older people in Havering own their own home without a mortgage and equity > £100,000
Living in larger homes
Half have a long term limiting illness
We want to find out if the decision to stay at home in later life is a preference or a result of a lack of options
Use research to inform our stock remodelling and new build programme
To be completed by March 15

5. Older Person Preference Survey
Phone survey of people aged 55+ on the Housing Register (Feb 14)
Small sample – extreme caution!!
30% did not want to move! An insurance policy
Bias towards 1 bed flats and particularly bungalows (32% said only bungalows)
Clear message that location is critical in decision to move
Physical mobility was a driver in wish to move for a third of respondents
The on-line CBL bidding system was a problem for many, knowing how to bid, and those that do bid carefully BUT that contradicts other research locally
People do not like bedsits!
Some comments
“I refuse to throw half of my property away”
“All I want is a little bungalow, little garden, if it comes up it comes up if not, I will suffer where I am”

6. Extra Care
Our Housing Needs and Demand Assessment 2012 showed many people don’t know what extra care housing is
Examine further this issue through our research programme
Re-visit our Extra Care Housing Needs forecast which looks at supply and demand(need) over time.
Put in place a consultation and marketing strategy to promote awareness and understanding of extra care

7. Support independent living
We have no Home Improvement Agency but have established a virtual one through a range of external agencies
Will be recruiting an older person housing advisor
Advice on availability of housing options across tenure
Suitability of housing options
Link between external agencies
Promotion and marketing of the availability of services
Continue to expand and develop our telecare and telehealth service
4500 users
First LA accredited in both telecare & telehealth

8. Assist older people wishing to downsize
Where people wish to!
For Council tenants a range of incentives
Financial incentive of £250 per bedroom plus £500 for removal
Placed on the highest band on our choice based lettings system
Can still underoccupy if preference
Dedicated support officer to give advice, information, and practical support - arrange move, disconnections and reconnections
For owner occupiers
Freespace – long term lease to Council of owned property coupled with assistance to move, potentially into Council stock

9. For both tenants and Owner occupiers
Developing new homes for older people that meet their needs and aspirations
For example we are building new bungalows for shared ownership and for rent at Albyns Close, Hornchurch
Bungalows within the grounds of three existing sheltered housing schemes, sharing communal lounge etc., targeted at downsizers.
Funded by the GLA and Havering Council HRA and will be our first new build in a generation

10. Albyns Close
9 two bed bungalows for rent and 9 two bed bungalows for shared ownership

11. Havering Housing Strategy 2014-17