Older adults at risk of non-supported housing precarity: conceptualisation and enumeration

Homeownership has long been a cornerstone of Australia’s retirement policy yet is under strain. A financialised housing market and population ageing leaves more people facing retirement with mortgage debt or reliance on the private rental sector. Despite these shifts, housing policy responses to support older households have remained largely stagnant. Our focus is on older adults experiencing or at risk of housing precarity who lack adequate housing assistance and sufficient wealth to secure housing. This study presents a new conceptualisation of this group, quantifies the scale of the issue, identifies those most affected, and analyses the distribution of wealth among older Australians. Among 955,513 low-income people aged 55 and older with wealth below $500,000, 46.2% rent privately, 25.0% own their home with a mortgage, and 28.8% have other tenure arrangements. Without policy reform—whether through policy shifts, political will, or advocacy—these disadvantages will persist. A mix of tenure-specific solutions for older adults are urgently required, including expanded social housing and well-regulated, affordable private rental options.