The home that suited you for years isn't always the one that suits the years ahead. What you need from where you live changes over time — and there's a lot to gain from a home that fits the life you want next.
If you've started to wonder whether your home still fits, this guide is a good place to begin. It covers what a better move looks like, how to work out what's right for you, and what stops people making the move they'd like to.
Rightsizing means choosing a home that fits your life now
Rightsizing is choosing a home on purpose. Not the biggest, not the cheapest — the one that suits how you live today, and how you'd like to live tomorrow.
Most of the time it's about a better fit, not simply less space. That could mean a home that's easier and cheaper to run, in a place that works for you, with room for what matters and none of what doesn't.
For one person that's a bungalow with no stairs and a garden they can manage. For another it's a flat near the shops, or a spare room so the family can come and stay.
Start by working out what's right for you
The first question isn't “can I afford to move?” It's “what do I want from a home now — and in ten years' time?” Get that clear and the rest is much easier to weigh up.
A few questions to sit with:
• What do you need from a home now, and what might you need later on? Think type, size, accessibility, and how much it costs to run.
• Where do you want to be — closer to family, nearer the shops, by the coast, or somewhere quieter?
• What makes your current home harder than it needs to be? Stairs, upkeep, bills, or rooms you rarely use?
• If nothing changed, would you still choose to live here in five years?
What stops people making a move they'd like to make
Many people are in exactly this position. Research from the Centre for Ageing Better suggests around 4 million people over 55 would like to move but can't find a home that suits them.
Usually it comes down to one of three things: not knowing a better option is out there, dreading the upheaval of moving, or being unsure how to find, fund or settle into somewhere new.
If you own your home, the equity in it is likely your biggest asset for funding a move. The usual routes are buying outright, a new mortgage, or renting — and most people pick the one that feels familiar rather than the one that fits. Look at all of them before you decide.
Take the first step at your own pace
You don't have to decide anything today. But the sooner you start picturing a home that fits, the sooner you can make it happen.
Start with the guide that speaks to where you are right now:
- 5 key considerations when relocating in retirement — the practical side: costs, timing, and what you'd gain
- How to deal with the stress of moving home — if the process feels like the bigger hurdle
- Smart housing choices for the over-60s — for cutting the running costs of a home that's grown too big
- Three reasons to move to the Isle of Wight — if a change of scenery is on your mind