"The private rented sector is playing an increasingly important role in housing older people, yet the supply of suitable and accessible homes is simply not keeping pace with demographic change."
- Nathan Emerson - Propertymark
Propertymark has warned that older and disabled renters navigating the UK’s private rented sector are seeing demand for accessible homes increasingly outpace supply.
The professional body for estate and letting agents has warned that the availability of bungalows and retirement properties is failing to keep pace with the rapid growth in older households across the UK, placing additional pressure on older renters, disabled tenants and those looking to downsize later in life.
Nearly 867,000 households headed by someone aged 55 or over are now living in England’s private rented sector, with demand for suitable homes expected to rise sharply as the population ages over the next decade.
Households headed by someone aged 65 or over are projected to increase by 22.1% by 2032, with the number of households aged 65-74 expected to grow from 3.3 million in 2022 to more than 4 million by 2032. Meanwhile, households headed by someone aged 85 or over are forecast to rise by 42.3%, increasing from 1.1 million to 1.5 million over the same period.
Despite this growing demand, Propertymark's industry-wide research found that the supply of privately rented bungalows and retirement properties across the UK has continued to decline year-on-year. In 2024, there were 17,225 bungalows and retirement properties rented, falling by 0.8% to 17,083 in 2025. This follows an overall decline of 4.2% since 2023, when the figure stood at 17,827.
Regional analysis also revealed stark disparities across the country, with some major cities seeing notable declines in availability while others experienced modest growth. Nottingham was among the sharpest falls, seeing listings fall from 538 to 494 properties, while Sheffield dropped from 202 to 166 available homes and Manchester decreased from 173 to 167 listings.
By contrast, several coastal and urban areas recorded increases. Brighton rose from 513 to 566 properties available to rent, Exeter increased from 417 to 446, Newcastle climbed from 277 to 310, and inner London also rose modestly from 265 to 289.
The findings highlight growing inconsistencies in access to accessible rental homes across the UK, particularly in locations often popular with retirees and older renters seeking to relocate.
Propertymark says the shortage of suitable homes risks limiting mobility and independence for older renters, particularly those living on fixed or lower incomes, while also placing additional pressure on wider housing supply.
"The private rented sector is playing an increasingly important role in housing older people, yet the supply of suitable and accessible homes is simply not keeping pace with demographic change," Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said.
"While some areas have seen modest improvements in the availability of bungalows and retirement properties, many major cities and communities continue to experience reductions in supply at a time when the number of older households is rising rapidly.
"For many renters, especially those with mobility needs or living on fixed incomes, accessible homes such as bungalows are not a preference; they are essential.
"Without greater investment in suitable housing and planning policies that properly reflect the needs of an ageing population, many older renters risk facing reduced choice, affordability pressures and fewer opportunities to relocate later in life."
