Older Australians and the housing aspirations gap

This report examined the housing aspirations of older Australians, defined as households over the age of 55. Within this research, housing aspirations were explored through the AHA survey, where respondents selected their ideal location, number of bedrooms, dwelling type and tenure. More than 2,400 older Australians answered questions, providing a robust description of the aspirations of older Australians. The most popular outcome was to live in the middle or outer suburbs of a city, an aspiration which increased with age. Small regional towns were the second most chosen location for those aged between 55 and 74 years, while those aged 75 and over were more likely to indicate a preference for the inner suburbs of a capital city. Aspirations are driven by a desire for long-term, stable housing. Security and having somewhere that feels like home are critical for older Australians.