Housing costs divide families
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High housing costs mean 1.5 million adults cannot look after their elderly parents because they can’t live close by, research has found.
One and a half million grandparents also say they are missing out on taking care of their grandchildren because their offspring cannot afford to live near them.
Housing charity Shelter commissioned a YouGov survey of 5,438 people in Great Britain to find out how unaffordable housing is affecting their lives.
Kay Boycott, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: ‘We all know how valuable it can be to have your family close by, but these figures show the shocking impact that spiralling housing costs are having on families.
‘Many families desperately need the support and care of relatives but the current housing crisis is making it impossible for family members to support each other in the way they want to.’
One in ten parents believe their children want to live closer to them but cannot because of unaffordable house prices, the research found.
‘This is not just about the financial cost for people. Grandparents are missing out on precious time watching their grandchildren grow up, and many elderly people may not be getting the support they need,’ Ms Boycott added.
Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Sarah Teather said: ‘This report highlights Labour’s failure to provide affordable housing and get a grip on the housing crisis. It is appalling that housing costs are making the elderly more isolated and keeping families apart.’
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Readers' comments (4)
B.S. Townroe | 02/02/2010 7:28 pm
Is anyone else fed up at this diet of endless gloom, backed up by the 'innovative' use of statistics that is turned out by the Shelter PR machine?
C'mon Shelter, let's see you try and take responsibility for delivering anything, let alone, perish the thought, of even coming up with some potential solutions. As for the Lib Dems, it's good to see their empty policy strategy still going strong. You know, they identified a record number of empty policies that, if only they were filled, would solve the country's housing crisis. Bless.
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AC Preston | 03/02/2010 8:41 am
if grandchildren can't afford to live near their grandparents then why don't grandparents sell up and move near their grandchildren.
Its not rocket salad!
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M.G. Henley | 03/02/2010 11:53 am
If Shelter really supports affordable housing why are they not promoting the use of Corlite Building Systems? This way of building has been around for decades but the vested interests of the construction industry has kept it from being used. Why? Because it's cheap and can be erected using unskilled labour, so there is very little room to 'build in' an inflated profit. Talk is cheap - let's see some action!
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karen | 03/02/2010 12:23 pm
I love this...
"One in ten parents believe their children want to live closer to them but cannot because of unaffordable house prices, the research found."
Hmmm. I wonder what would have happened if they actually asked the children. If you want a real opinion ask the person who's opinion it is you want not their parents. Why would their parents know?! And before someone says "they are their parents they know them better than anyone..." Really? Your parent can be a mouth piece for every one of your thoughts and emotions? Perish the thought.
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