For May 2023 there were 672,375 total properties available for sale across Britain, only 3.7% (24,912) of which were retirement housing, according to research by House Buyer Bureau.
Of these retirement listings, 8,080 were already under offer or sold subject to contract (SSTC), leaving retirement homebuyer demand at 32.4%.
Demand was highest in Scotland, where 51% of all retirement listings are SSTC or under offer; Scotland also had the lowest stock of all British regions, with retirement community homes accounting for just 1.9% of total homes listed.
Demand was above the national average in the North West (38.8%), Wales (35.8%), East of England (35.5%), Yorkshire and the Humber (34.9%), and the South West (34.5%).
At 2.6% and 2.4%, respectively, the North West and Wales were home to some of the lowest levels of retirement community stock across Britain.
The lowest level of demand for retirement community homes was in the North East (24.6%), followed by London (25.4%) and the South East (29%).
The South East was home to the healthiest stock, with retirement homes accounting for 6.2% of all current listings.
Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau, said: “In Great Britain, people are living longer and enjoying healthier, more independent lives in later life.
“As such, retirement homes and communities have become an increasingly popular option when looking to maintain a social life while also maintaining a level of independence.”
He added: “What’s more, downsizing the old family home and opting for a retirement community is a great way of reducing stress, not to mention the financial boost equity release can bring when doing so.
“It seems, however, that across large swathes of Britain, demand outweighs available stock when it comes to the availability of retirement community homes.
“This means that those considering a move from the regular bricks and mortar market into a retirement community may want to act sooner, rather than later, as selling their home quickly will allow them to maximise their chances of securing a suitable retirement property.”
