§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many retired people they estimate are currently seeking "granny flats" or sheltered accommodation and are currently occupying family housing; and whether, in order to release large family houses back onto the housing market, they will consider giving grants and other incentives to families to adapt accommodation for elderly relatives. [HL294]
§ Baroness HaymanInformation on the number of retired people seeking "granny flats" or sheltered accommodation who are currently occupying family housing is not collected centrally. However, research for the Department of the Environment (Living Independently: The Housing Needs of Elderly and Disabled People, published in 1994) found that about eight per cent. of elderly people. half of whom were owner-occupiers, were very or fairly likely to move within the next 12 months; and that those elderly people who wanted to move were more likely to want smaller, rented accommodation. However, the vast majority of elderly people, particular owner-occupiers, said that they wanted to stay in their present homes.
Most local authorities run cash incentive schemes to release properties for letting to those in housing need, by payment of a grant to assist the tenant in purchasing a property. Under such schemes, local authorities may also offer grants to elderly tenants to fund adaptations to the homes of their adult children, so that they may move in with them. It is for local authorities to decide whether or not to include such grants within their individual schemes.