Chapter 9: Housing and economic security in retirement

This chapter of the report 'A husband is not a retirement plan' - Achieving economic security for women in retirement (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016), discusses the increase in the number of Australians, particularly women, who are relying on private rental accommodation in retirement. A number of participants in the inquiry highlighted the interrelationship between housing and economic security in retirement. In particular, it was noted that older people living in rental accommodation faced much higher risks of poverty than older people who owned their own home. Because older women—and in particular older single women—are more likely to be renters than single men or couples, some inquiry participants argued that assisting older renters was an important aspect of improving women's economic security in retirement.