Dr. Nat O'Connor:

The answer is "Yes". In census 2016, we saw that 2.5% of older persons are renters. That adds up to a significant number. An NESC report on the private rented sector that was published today emphasises that the older renter is a growing cohort. If you project ahead ten or 20 years, a large number of people who are renting now are unlikely ever to become homeowners. The prevalence of the older renter is rapidly growing. It is a very significant policy concern because so many private leases are of short duration and people simply have no security in older age. We have spoken to people who are worried. They are working in their late 60s and into their 70s and they do not know how they will pay the rent once they stop working.