Jane McGowan finds out why increasing numbers of older people are opting for a more urban retirement setting...
For many years it was the ‘thing’ for retirees to ditch their suburban lifestyles and head off either to a rural idyll or the seaside, happily casting off the constraints of commuterville for an abundance of fresh air or strolls along the prom.
However, in more recent times, older people appear to be opting to either stay in the area they have lived all their lives or move to a more urban setting.
David Hines is a chief operating officer of property consultants Platinum Skies, he says: “The idea that over 55s dream of retiring to a country retreat is at odds with the customers we meet at Platinum Skies. Rather than living somewhere with limited access to amenities, our residents want a home they can use as a launchpad for exploring the local area.”
Research by Home Wise, a property information service dedicated to helping people in retirement, has found that 87% of those surveyed said the quality of the health care was the main consideration when thinking about moving. This was followed by the desire for good transport links (78%) and friendly neighbours (77%). Many of those questioned were looking for a busy social scene (33%), with 40% keen to find good leisure facilities.
“The convenience of having healthcare services, retail and restaurants on the doorstep enables residents to enjoy a truly sociable, dynamic lifestyle,” says David. “While many of our buyers have spent the past 30+ years living in large family homes in the suburbs, our developments enable them to re-discover the benefits of urban living, downsizing to a modern, purpose-built home.”
Home Wise encourages retirees to think seriously about relocating, urging them to consider the following points: why do you want to relocate – make sure your ‘dream’ destination measures up to your practical needs; how much support can you tap into should you need it? Will you be close to family and friends? Are their services available if relatives are further away? Can you finance a move and potentially a long retirement?
Valerie Aimes from Bookham says although she and her husband had always dreamed of retiring to the south-west coast but once they had taken the time to think seriously about their long-held plan, they decided it was better to stay close to the community they had enjoyed for more than 30 years.
“Our two children have both moved away and we didn’t want to choose which one we would go and live near as that didn’t seem fair,” Valerie says. “We looked at properties in Dorset and Devon but in the end, we made the decision to stay where we are. We have easy access to a fantastic high street – that amazingly still has a baker and a greengrocer – we are not to far from the coast if we fancy a short break and have all of our wonderful friends and social life around us.”
And while some people are happy to stay put, it would seem there is a growing trend among so-called ‘baby boomers’ to make the move into urban centres. For example, in 2017, 14.3% of retirees headed into London, with Ealing, East London and Maida Vale taking the top spots. Of those that made the move, 80% were from the Home Counties, citing the desire to be near grandchildren and leisure pursuits such as easy access to theatre and galleries as the main causes.
Whichever options you go for, the advice is clear – take time over your decision and consider all the factors.
