Alternative Forms of Tenure

This chapter reviews recent developments which aim to provide sheltered housing for sale or for shared ownership. The development of sheltered housing for sale, for outright ownership, is likely to grow. Sheltered housing for sale is more likely to be built in Eastbourne than in Glasgow. The chapter also reviews alternative forms of sheltered housing tenure. The new forms of tenure, with the exception perhaps of leasehold schemes for the elderly, are aimed at those elderly with relatively high incomes. The equity-sharing schemes – known as leasehold schemes for the elderly – developed by the housing association movement, recognised that outright ownership of sheltered housing is not within the reach of the majority of elderly owner-occupiers. One of the largest housing associations for the elderly, Hanover, has recently introduced a new sponsorship scheme enabling industries, individual companies and institutions to buy nomination rights in certain of their schemes.