Calls to ‘bring back bungalows’ as some over-55s put moving plans on hold

Calls to bring back bungalows have been made as research suggested many over-55s would like to buy one in their next property move.

One in seven (14%) homeowners aged 55-plus who took part in a survey said they wanted to move, but ultimately felt unable to, for various reasons, such as the the stress and upheaval involved, a lack of suitable homes, and a reluctance to leave their community behind.

The research, published by the HomeOwners Alliance, suggested that 38% of homeowners aged 55-plus would prefer a bungalow for their next move.

But the HomeOwners Alliance pointed to figures from the National House Building Council (NHBC), a warranty and insurance provider, indicating that bungalows made up 11% of new home registrations in 1990, but just 1% in 2024.

The NHBC has a 70%-plus share of the UK warranty market and its figures indicate the stock of new properties in the pipeline as homes are registered with it before being built.

The HomeOwners Alliance survey also indicated that people aged 55-plus were more likely than homeowners of all ages to say the stress of moving, shortage of suitable homes and not wanting to move away from friends and neighbours were a barrier to moving.

With many older homeowners having built up equity in their property, house prices and moving costs were less of a barrier to moving for older homeowners than for younger generations, the survey indicated.

Paula Higgins, chief executive of HomeOwners Alliance, said: “Our research shows that too many older homeowners feel stuck in homes that no longer work for them but struggle to find an appropriate alternative.”

Opinium carried out the survey among 2,000 people across the UK in April, on behalf of HomeOwners Alliance.

While the NHBC has a 70%-plus share of the UK warranty market, its figures will not necessarily represent around 70% of the retirement living market.

A McCarthy Stone spokesperson said there is a “critical shortage” of bungalows.

The spokesperson said: “It’s clear that the housing market must do more for this demographic. Prioritising the construction of bungalows isn’t just about meeting demand; it’s about enabling older people to live independently, stay connected to their communities, and free up larger family homes for younger generations.

“At McCarthy Stone, we are increasingly adding bungalows to our development portfolio. We currently have 15 bungalow developments comprising 300 units across the country that are either sold out or selling now, and with more sites coming soon.”