Statistics from SmartNewHomes.com, the UK’s leading new homes website, reveal a marked increase in older house buyers over the last two years.

Homebuyers aged 65 or over have grown by 25% over the last year and 35% over the last two. They now rival the under 30 age group which, as first time buyers, have been reducing as a proportion of all buyers.

“There are two key reasons for the increase in older buyers” says David Bexon, Managing Director of SmartNewHomes.com. “First is that more and more older people are becoming acquainted with the internet, no doubt encouraged by younger relations. Second, and this will be a long term trend, this growing segment of the population are realising the advantages of buying new over older homes.

The Office of National Statistics reports that 16% of the UK’s population – 9.5 million people – are aged 65 or over, compared to 13% – 7.2 million in 1971. Government experts have predicted that these figures will continue to rise as improved standards of living and healthcare increase life expectancy and the ‘baby boom’ generation of the 1960s reach old age, predicting that the number of people aged 65 or over will have reached 15 million by 2031.

SmartNewHomes.com point out new homes offer many benefits to retirees over standard properties. They are often built as part of a secure development with access control such as gated entrances and video entry systems and modern security and fire alarm systems in place for peace of mind. Those with assisted facilities usually have a security or warden presence and 24 emergency call facilities but will still be individual apartments with ensuite bathrooms and kitchens and added features such as waist-high plug sockets and lifts to give residents complete independence. 

David Bexon, Managing Director SmartNewHomes.com, comments: “Many retirees are finding that as they get older their old home becomes unmanageable but they still want to retain their independence. New homes can provide a smaller, more manageable home that is secure, low maintenance, energy efficient and warm. For those that need a little more support, specially-built retirement properties have assistance on hand but still offer older homebuyers an independent life in a well-designed and competitively priced new home.”