Next Gen News

Persuading older people to reduce their property after the children have flown the nest is a good idea, but the problem is more difficult to solve than it seems

Before I had eaten a bite of breakfast this morning to an old friend made an attempt to make me feel guilty and start packing my books and furniture. Why? Because Mrs. White and still occupy the family home of our children have fled (mostly) which means that contribute to a pool of 25 million empty rooms.

The disturbing fact was made at the Radio 4 Today, on behalf of a team that had never heard of the Foundation called intergenerational. It exists to promote a better understanding of the imbalances that have grown up - the older baby boomers, the post-war, full of benefits and assets, while young people are responsible for all kinds of debt - and the best so that it could face

Yes, I think. David Willetts, the Minister of Universities and the man thought Oliver Letwin, wrote the pinch, an intelligent book on the opposition. Many others are concerned, not just the young, things look now. I say "currently" for reasons I'll explain.

In this case, the foundation has been my guardian former colleague, economics writer, Ashley Seager, who recently left the newspaper to work in the city and joined the SI of the Advisory Committee in of the portfolio of his new life (as indicated in the City). But no, turns out to be a co-founder. Well done.

social justice, intergenerational transfers, retirement age by default, is the kind of problems you do not want released. Today's report - you can find it here - focuses on the need to persuade the elderly to reduce the size of households no longer need into something smaller

The theory is that it will free up family homes for families in need, like the old and do not. The authors point is that my wife and I think a fair amount of a number of reasons, including the author himself.

estate agents regularly fly the mail to help us on our way -. Brave souls who are

But it's complicated. Radio 4 interviewed a couple of 60 years living in the roof of his house with three beds in Hemel Hempstead, full of memories and - of course - full of business, including beds for the grandchildren visit

They resentment of the allegations that are "hoarding" and add rooms to the housing crisis. Most people value - and use -. A replacement part

Well, understandably, the whites are a bit high as well. But do not take us very far. The solution, if the government should encourage downsizing, oldies by exempting stamp duty on the purchase of small - as they did to try to help first-time buyers But this policy did not work very well for first time buyers. Or can not find a home of adequate size. Either they can not get a mortgage on our illiquid banking system. Or can not pay anyway because their payment has been pressed. Or who have lost their jobs. It is very difficult to rent as well.

Seager said that the unused rooms 25m - which is only 18 million out of the first (ie, spare) room - an increase of 45% in 10 years and a half of those over 65 have at least two empty rooms.

do in our house, in theory, but they are rarely unemployed. We have three guest rooms in our three abandoned when typing, and often endure routine "United Nations" he laughs.

mitigation is to keep extra rooms, but not so either. Be less attractive to potential visitors (many older people that confirm this) is a good reason for downsizing, despite the downsizing of a more expensive home at a pressure less expensive and smaller, you can also put when the migration of families in the same direction.

is also the delicate question of profit allows students in most major cities -. A much more important a few years ago when there were few students and more than happy to live in rooms or shared rooms

up to £ 1500 (annually a living wage in days) for young couples who want to restore the property fields of moisture, and installing central heating. It's like the provision of micro-generation of today - but more

My generation has benefited from it (me), but also experienced the first wave of rising house prices (circa 1971), the rate of double-digit inflation and interest rates furious they were very painful at the time, although gradually reduced our debt in real terms.