Older, low-income households prefer alternative housing models: AHURI

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute’s (AHURI) research entitled Housing aspirations of precariously house older Australians examined the preferences of older, low-income households’ preferences for a range of alternative housing models and which would best meet their needs.

The research — undertaken by researchers from Curtin University, University of South Australia, RMIT University and Flinders University — explored various different housing models that included a cooperative housing option, a mixed-use apartment building option, a communal housing option, a transportable home option, a shared equity home ownership option, a dual key property option and a village-style housing option.

The research indicated that the shared equity housing option was the most preferred of all housing options, with 67 per cent of respondents saying they wanted to live in a separate house, 14 per cent preferred a town house or duplex, and 9 per cent said they preferred an apartment.

Further findings showed that respondents expressed a strong liking for rights of ownership at 84 per cent or a long lease option at 83 per cent.

Other options such as shared governance and management (59 per cent) and land owned and retained by the government (68 per cent) were less desirable for respondents.

According to lead researcher, Associate Professor Dr Amity James from Curtin University, older, low-income households were more likely to experience risky housing, especially those living in the private rental sector or if they had a mortgage when entering retirement.

Dr James stated that the ability to understand housing preferences for this cohort would help develop a market for alternative affordable housing options.

“Participants’ knowledge of alternative housing models was limited, which reflects the relative scarcity of these options and the dominance of mainstream models, especially home ownership, social rental housing and private rental,” Dr James said.

“There is also limited information on the available options, how to access them, legalities and other information pertinent to decision making.”

Dr James added that information must be accessible to help marginalised groups better navigate the complex housing system.

“We found three of the seven alternative housing models were substantially preferred by low income, older Australians, including a shared equity home ownership model, a cooperative housing model, and a transportable home model,” Dr James concluded.

“All three alternative housing models met the short and long-term housing needs of the respondents and would also deliver benefits in terms of people’s non-shelter aspirations for home including independence, privacy, security of tenure, ability to have companion animals and room for friends, family or a carer to stay.”

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