Seniors Housing - Issues Identification Paper

This issues paper considers the housing experiences of seniors in Auckland, with a focus on vulnerable groups (asset poor renters and owner‐occupiers in a financially vulnerable situation). Community and Social Policy have identified housing issues facing seniors to be an emerging policy area for investigation. Auckland’s population is growing, and becoming older. It is estimated that by 2041, over 65’s will make up 22‐25% of New Zealand’s population and 24‐32% by 2068. Declining home ownership rates may mean that ‘within the next few decades, half the older people reaching retirement age will be renting. The affordability of Auckland for renting seniors and financially vulnerable owner‐ occupier seniors will become a deeper issue if housing costs continue to rise and the number of seniors grows.