Changes in the Housing Situation of the Elderly:

This paper presents results of a careful examination of the changes in the housing circumstances of the elderly over the 1974-79 period, using data from the Annual Housing Survey. The focus is on both the quality of housing occupied and the level of income devoted to housing. The outcomes show that among elderly households there has been substantial and widespread improvement in housing quality especially the incidence of serious structural defects. Improvements in housing quality appear to be achieved by the elderly expending more of their incomes for housing. This however may be a temporary problem due to several factors. Stabilized energy prices, reduced inflation, and a rental building surge fostered by the provisions of the Economic Tax Recovery Acy of 1981 may offer some relief.