Downsizing is often described as a golden bullet to solve our housing crisis, potentially freeing up some of the most spacious homes for younger generations who are trapped in flats or smaller houses, often with growing families.
However, persuading retired homeowners whose grown-up children have fled the nest to downsize is proving to be quite a challenge. A challenge that has led to repeated calls for incentives (stamp duty cuts, for one) to persuade older people to move out of their homes.
Research commissioned by The Sunday Times has uncovered the local authorities in England and Wales that contain the largest number of “bedroom blockers” — those residents who have the most empty bedrooms but are not downsizing to make way for the next generation.