Helping older renters struggling to find housing

Australia’s rental crisis is severely impacting the lives of older people who have to rely on the shrinking, and increasingly expensive, rental market.

Many have been forced to move into unsuitable or undesirable accommodation, such as residential aged care homes, due to financial challenges in the rental market.

A recent report from charity organisation Anglicare Australia is calling for an increase in the number of social housing residences and greater protections for tenants to prevent older people being moved into aged care earlier than they want to.

Key points

• Survey finds less than 1 per cent of private rental homes are affordable for pensioners.

• 90 per cent say they want to age at home.

• 72 per cent of older renters said cost was the biggest barrier to them ageing at home.