Facilitating a move for the young Elderly

Abstract

The Netherlands is currently facing a housing crisis characterised by both quantitative and qualitative mismatches in the market. The issues range from a housing shortage to the unequal distribution of suitable dwellings. One of the reasons for this housing crisis is the prolonged residence of young elderly in unsuitable dwellings, as policy reforms in 2015 encouraged them to age in place, unintentionally stagnating housing flow and thus contributing to the housing crisis. This research focuses on understanding how a move for young elderly can be better facilitated to contribute to decreasing the housing crisis. The research explores the desired dwelling characteristics of this demographic and the factors influencing their decision to move. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative interview insights. The quantitative data makes use of an existing dataset from Woononderzoek Nederland 2021. The interview data is collected by interviewing young elderly. The findings reveal that the young elderly, primarily residing in owner-occupied dwellings, have diverse characteristics and preferences. While financial stability and higher education position them in the owner-occupied market, their desired dwelling characteristics vary based on age, income, and household composition. A preference for smaller dwellings, particularly apartments, is identified, indicating the potential for increased housing flow if suitable options are available. Factors influencing the decision to move categorised into willingness, ability, and awareness, are explored comprehensively. Health considerations, dwelling type and size, living environment, and social connections emerge as pivotal elements in this decision-making process. The research delves into why and how these factors influence the decision to move, providing valuable insights into the nuanced aspects of young elderly’s decision-making. The research translates these insights into actionable strategies, proposing facilitation methods, including creating push and pull factors, increasing the supply of suitable housing, and raising awareness of available options. The involvement of disinterested organisations, such as Vereniging Eigen Huis, is identified as a potential facilitator, representing the interests of the young elderly in collaboration with policymakers and developers. In conclusion, this thesis offers a comprehensive understanding of the housing needs and desires of the young elderly in the Netherlands and provides practical facilitation strategies. The findings contribute to a more nuanced and inclusive approach to housing policy, aiming to alleviate the housing crisis through housing flow. Continuous research and adaptive policy-making are emphasised for a sustainable and inclusive housing future. Recommended for further research is to generalise the results using a survey. This research only conducted nine interviews, making generalisability hard. Approaching experts in that field to get their professional views on the subject is also advisable. Keywords| Young elderly, housing flow, willingness to move, moving behaviour, facilitating a move