Bungalow boom prompts calls for more single-storey homes as demand shifts to younger buyers
HomeOwners Alliance survey finds 38% of homeowners aged 55-plus would prefer a bungalow; bungalows accounted for 1% of new registrations last year, down from 11% in 1990, underscoring a chronic shortage.
A new survey shows single-storey bungalows are drawing a broader pool of buyers, prompting calls for builders to increase the supply of such homes. The HomeOwners Alliance, which commissioned the Opinium poll, found that 38 percent of homeowners aged 55 and older would prefer a bungalow for their next move. The research also indicated that one in seven in that age group said they wanted to move but cited the lack of suitable homes as a barrier, a finding the group described as additional stress that could deter downsizing. The survey paints a picture of a generation with growing equity but facing a housing stock that does not align with current preferences.
Bungalows accounted for just 1 percent of new home registrations last year, compared with 11 percent in 1990, according to data from the National House Building Council. The decline over three decades has coincided with rising demand for accessible, single-level living and with demographic shifts that include a larger share of older homeowners who want to age in place, as well as younger buyers drawn to the idea of homes that reduce the maintenance burden. The data has industry observers urging a rethink of planning and construction priorities to better align supply with desire for single-storey living.
Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: 'Our research shows that too many older homeowners feel stuck in homes that no longer work for them.' A spokesman for McCarthy Stone, which develops and runs retirement housing, described a 'critical shortage' of bungalows and added: 'Prioritising the construction of bungalows isn't just about meeting demand, it's about enabling older people to live independently, stay connected to communities, and freeing up larger family homes for younger generations.'
Overall, the Opinium survey involved 2,000 adults across the United Kingdom in April, on behalf of the HomeOwners Alliance. While many older homeowners see moving as a route to better accessibility and lower maintenance, the cost and stress of relocating remain real barriers, making the shortage of suitable single-storey houses a potential drag on mobility. Industry groups say a larger bungalow pipeline could affect regional housing markets, lenders' risk assessments, and planning decisions as developers recalibrate product lines to reflect shifting buyer preferences.