Housing for older people
Older person’s housing, which may also be referred to as retirement housing, is a type of housing designed for people who are older, and may include sheltered housing, extra care or assisted living, or age-restricted general market housing.
Sheltered housing
- Also known as retirement housing, sheltered housing offers some support for residents who need it.
- Sheltered housing is usually for people aged 55 or older, but some schemes are only for those over 60.
- Sheltered housing may include communal areas, emergency alarms, and social activities.
- Tenants can usually arrange for assistance with day-to-day tasks if needed.
Extra care housing or assisted living
- Extra care or assisted living offers more care options than sheltered housing, but still allows residents to live independently.
- Residents will often have their own front door and apartment, but may receive help with personal care, hygiene, dressing, taking medication, and meals.
- May have access to communal areas like cafes, lounges, activity rooms, and hairdressing salons.
- Usually available to buy or rent, including at social or affordable rent levels.
Details of extra care housing in Kent can be found on Kent County Council’s extra care housing.
Age-restricted general market housing
- This type of housing is generally for people aged 55 and over.
- Age-restricted general market housing may include shared amenities, but does not include support or care services.
To be eligible for older person’s housing for social or affordable rent, you will often need to be registered on the Council’s Housing Register.
However, there are some social and affordable rented older person’s housing within the Tunbridge Wells borough, where the waiting lists are managed directly by the housing provider.
To find more details of older person’s housing in the Tunbridge Wells borough you can visit the Housing Care website.
For information on more specialist older person’s accommodation, such as care homes or long-term residential placements, please visit Kent County Council’s Housing and Care Homes webpage.