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Homes

Too many homes don’t meet the needs of people in later life. We want everyone to be able to live in a safe and suitable home as they get older.

Woman in wheelchair looking into the camera

Most people want to live in their own home, in the communities they belong to, for as long as possible. But far too many older people are currently living in homes that are endangering their lives. 

Much of the housing in England is dangerous or unsuitable for older people. Homes are not safe or warm. They have hazards and are inaccessible for someone with a disability. This needlessly costs society millions each year in NHS and social care costs. We want to make homes more age-friendly so that more people can remain living independently, healthily and happily as they grow older.

Our work to make homes safe and suitable as we get older

Evidence

Explore our evidence briefings to understand the scale of the problem in older people’s housing

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The State of Ageing - Homes

Case studies

Hear directly from people living in unsafe housing in our case study stories.

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Older man at home

Policy solutions

Our policy analysis provides costed solutions for aimed at national policy makers and we have been campaigning with partners to bring about these changes.

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Row of terraced houses

Housing campaigns

We have been campaigning with partners to bring about change.

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Good Home Hub model

We have a range of materials for local areas interested in expanding their home improvement offer including our Good Home Hub model.

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Good Home Hubs

Good Home Network

Our learning network, bringing local authorities together to make connections, share challenges and drive change to improve the quality of homes.

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The state of ageing 2025

Summary report: The State of Ageing 2025

This year’s State of Ageing report paints a picture of the older population in England, using a variety of national data sources.

Our new analysis shows that quite simply, where you are born in England determines how long you live and how well you age.

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Finding the funds to fix our homes: Helping people access finance to improve their homes

This briefing shows how some local authorities are finding ways to support residents keep their homes in good condition.

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Safe Homes Now Spotlight: Black and Minority Ethnic Communities

In this third spotlight by Ageing Better, Runnymede Trust, Race Equality Foundation and People’s Health Trust, we look at the disproportionate impact of poor-quality homes on people from Black and minority ethnic communities.

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Tackling poor-quality housing faced by England’s older minority ethnic communities

People from minority ethnic communities are more likely to be living in poor-quality homes. We need to improve their access to support, writes Nazia Azad from the Centre for Ageing Better.

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Alongside the government’s ‘Build Baby Build’ mantra, Britain’s housing crisis needs ‘Fix Baby Fix’

Two in five UK households have a need for home improvements but face barriers to delivering them.

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Network of one-stop shops for home improvement would not cost government a penny to end tragedy of poor-quality homes

The country is in the midst of a poor quality housing crisis and lacks effective solutions to tackle it.

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Better homes better lives

Better homes, better lives: The role of home improvement services in boosting the nation’s health and wellbeing

This report summarises the findings of an evaluation that demonstrates how increased provision of comprehensive home improvement services can enable a healthier population, strengthen the resilience of public services and result in better economic outcomes.

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house

People should not have to live like this: Time to end the poor-quality housing crisis

Housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa has seen some of the most horrific living conditions faced by tenants across the UK in his years of social justice campaigning.

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