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This research investigates lower income older households’ preferences for a range of alternative housing models and examines which of these would best meet their needs, as well as identifying ways to support households deciding their housing options. The findings of this project provide key evidence for consideration in developing a market for alternative housing options. Seven alternative housing models were presented to a nationally representative sample of older people. These composite models—each with a unique combination of tenure, construction, location, social composition, shared space and technology characteristics—included a mixed use apartment building option; a cooperative housing 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 shared equity home ownership model; cooperative housing model; and transportable home model were substantially preferred by lower income housed older Australians. 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.Survey respondents expressed a strong liking for rights of ownership (84%)—through the dual key housing option and the shared equity housing option—and a long lease option (83%). Housing options that included other tenure arrangements, such as shared governance and management (59%) and land owned and retained by government (68%), were considered less desirable.

Related reports and documentsInquiry into housing policies and practices for precariously housed older Australians https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research-in-progress/inquiry-intohousing-policies-and-practices-for-precariously-housedolder-australians AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research management company, AHURI Limited, at its centre. AHURI's mission is to deliver high quality research that influences policy development and practice change to improve the housing and urban environments of all Australians.Using high quality, independent evidence and through active, managed engagement, AHURI works to inform the policies and practices of governments and the housing and urban development industries, and stimulate debate in the broader Australian community. AHURI undertakes evidence-based policy development on a range of priority policy topics that are of interest to our audience groups, including housing and labour markets, urban growth and renewal, planning and infrastructure development, housing supply and affordability, homelessness, economic productivity, and social cohesion and wellbeing. AHURI journalAHURI Final Report journal series is a refereed series presenting the results of original research to a diverse readership of policy-makers, researchers and practitioners. Peer review statementAn objective assessment of reports published in the AHURI journal series by carefully selected experts in the field ensures that material published is of the highest quality. The AHURI journal series employs a double-blind peer review of the full report, where anonymity is strictly observed between authors and referees.

This research investigates the potential of alternative housing models to increase the supply of affordable housing for older Australians and the role alternative financing schemes could play in expanding those options.A survey of industry stakeholders shows almost 75 per cent reported that the housing needs of lower income older people (55+) in the jurisdiction where they were based are ‘not well’ or ‘not at all well’ met. Participants said relying too heavily on the private rental sector to house older lower income people was problematic, and one of the main reasons why alternative affordable housing options are urgently needed.The research identified seven housing models that best represented different combinations of attributes suitable for older households and that could benefit from further research: using mixed use apartment building owned by a state housing authority (rental); cooperative housing on land owned by a community housing provider (rental); communal housing in a two-storey building owned by a community housing provider (rental); transportable home on vacant public land (rental); shared equity home in the outer suburbs of a capital city (ownership); dual key property in the outer suburbs of a capital city (ownership); and village-style housing (rental).The models having the greatest potential to better meet people’s needs are:cohousingintegrated mixed-use developmentsmodular-style manufactured housing utilising vacant landlow-rise medium density developmentreforms to the private rental sector to better protect older tenants.