Older adults support many types of housing regulation reform

Older adults support changing zoning laws to make homebuilding easier, according to new surveys by AARP and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Older adults overwhelmingly want to age in place, but their homes are often unsuited to aging, while rising home prices and a shortage of housing inventory makes it difficult to move.

The desire of older adults to stay in their current communities as they age has been well-documented by AARP. A 2024 survey found that 73% of adults age 50 and older expressed a desire to stay in their local communities. “Social connections, local amenities, and access to services such as doctors are vital for older adults, but all of that can be lost with a move to a new community,” AARP reported. “Fifty-six percent of older adults that responded to the AARP survey said that it is extremely or very important that their community provide a range of housing options that can fit people’s needs as they age.”

Having an adequate number of age-appropriate homes that are affordable to older adults — many of whom are retired on fixed incomes — is the challenge. A Pew survey reported how older adults compared to other generations on solving these obstacles.

Pew found that older adults showed the most support for “simplified, faster permitting; allowing commercial buildings to be converted to housing; and allowing apartments near transit and job centers.”

But there wasn’t support for every kind of zoning change. For example, “respondents 65 and older expressed lower levels of support than younger respondents for allowing housing types such as accessory dwelling units and duplexes in residential neighborhoods, suggesting the possible need for outreach on potential benefits of the policies for older adults and people of all ages.”

Here’s a summary of where more than 50% of older adults surveyed supported housing regulation changes:

• 88% supported requirements for simplified, faster permitting
• 82% supported allowing apartments near transit or job centers
• 82% supported conversion of commercial buildings to housing
• 74% supported allowing apartments near offices, stores or restaurants
• 67% supported allowing conversion of basements and attics to apartments
• 59% supported allowing owners and builders to decide how much off-street parking

Here’s a summary of the less popular housing regulation changes, according to the survey:

• 46% supported allowing townhouses and small multifamily on any residential lot
• 45% supported allowing building of homes closer together with smaller yards.

The survey also revealed a difference between older adults who were renting versus those who owned their homes. The two areas where this was most apparent:

• 68% of renters supported allowing townhouses and small multifamily on any residential lot, while only 47% of homeowners supported this.
• 56% of renters supported allowing building of homes closer together with smaller yards, while only 44% of homeowners supported this.

The AARP article noted that “A crucial step to addressing the housing challenges faced by older adults is for states and local governments to reform land-use policies and zoning rules to allow more homes, of different types, to be built. By leveraging the support of both older and younger adults for these reforms, communities can expand housing options to meet the needs of all as they age.”