By Dr Manik Gopinath, Senior Lecturer in Ageing, The Open University
England is home to a growing, ethnically diverse older population. Yet we know remarkably little about minority older adults’ experiences of housing.
The Amar bari, amar jibon (My Home, My Life) study set out to make this visible, co-producing research with 76 older Bangladeshi adults, ‘probins’ in Bengali , aged 50 and over, living across four East London boroughs. The age cut-off of 50 reflects shorter healthy life expectancy and earlier exit from paid employment among Bangladeshi communities. Having arrived from an agricultural region of Bangladesh in response to demand for unskilled labour from the 1950s onwards, they are now reaching older age in significant numbers for the first time. Not only are Bangladeshi communities among the most housing-deprived groups in England, but nearly four in 10 live in social housing. This article reports on probins’ experiences in general needs social housing.
Profile of probins in general needs social housing
Probins are concentrated in older purpose-built flats and maisonettes, stock pre-dating contemporary accessibility standards. Nearly all report multimorbidity, including cardiovascular, diabetes and musculoskeletal conditions. The vast majority live in inter- or multigenerational households in housing designed for nuclear families. Inadequate spaces and facilities impact probins who spend most time at home the hardest. Single shared bathrooms create particular difficulties for health and water-based faith practice given they are practising Muslims.
“The room I stay in […] one corner on the side is always wet and it’s so cold […]. Mostly I stay in the sitting […] but in the sitting room you can’t always lie down […] laying on the settee bed the pain in my back, so many types of pain” – female probin
Housing conditions and repairs
Probins describe poor housing conditions, including recurring damp and mould, poor ventilation, structural disrepair and outdated facilities, but very few report satisfaction with repairs. Requests are frequently ignored, significantly delayed, sometimes over two years, or completed to poor standard with problems recurring. Some self-fund repairs due to long waiting times only to find landlords subsequently refuse responsibility when problems recurred.
“It’s been two years. We’re continuouslygetting appointments from[landlord] and they are not coming. These windows you can see. If you sit hear, feels like the wind is washing your legs. It’s so cold!All day we keep heating on; 12/13 hours heating is on still the house is not getting warm enough[…] we never paid so much bill in my life […]” – male probin
Digital exclusion and the closure of local offices have removed accessible reporting routes. Probins face constant pressure to use online services which disproportionately affects those lacking independent internet access or knowledge of how to use it, and limited English. The withdrawal of housing inspectors/onsite staff adds to a pervasive feeling that agencies neither care nor wish to help. Poor housing conditions together with repair neglect exacerbate pre-existing health problems, affect sleep and mental wellbeing.
“Before, […] you’ll at least have the housing inspector[…]. He’ll look at it and he’ll make a proper report. People over the phone, first of all it’s the navigation system. Press one for that, press two for that, and you’re just going round and they just want to send you direct to the online” – male probin
“I sometimes say, what will happen if we stop paying rent? They will take it to court. But they don’t see our problems. I think this is a big problem” – female probin
Adaptations: High need, low uptake
Unmet need for minor and major adaptations is high, yet many probins haven’t pursued them despite widespread mobility and health conditions. Water-based toileting practices common among Bangladeshi and other South Asian communities make standard UK bathroom provision particularly inadequate.
“We [probin and spouse] have to struggle to get into the shower. They didn’t give it. I told them [landlord]. They don’t bother” – male probin
Some probins are simply unaware of home adaptations. Where they do reach out, experiences are often discouraging. Many in housing association tenancies find landlords either withhold consent or never respond at all. Several stop persisting. Deterred by poor repair experiences, landlord distrust, language barriers and reluctance to impose on adult children, many simply make do.
“I informed them [for adaptations]. They said they will have to inform to the council. Where and what we should do,they don’t let us know” – male probin
What this means for providers
Stock condition surveys assess buildings, not the people in them. They don’t capture whether housing conditions affect tenants’ health and wellbeing. Standard adaptation assessments and DFG-funded programmes are similarly not designed with water-based hygiene practices in mind.
The RSH Consumer Standards and Awaab’s Law are a step in the right direction, recognising housing as key to health and wellbeing. But all rely on effective communication and engagement with tenants. Our research tells a different story. Intersectional disadvantages of language, digital exclusion, tenure and age combine with unresponsive systems to produce silent acceptance rather than active engagement. If services become hard to reach, needs are likely to go unreported.
Our findings also suggest that sheltered accommodation is largely unknown to this group and not a preferred option as currently configured. Asset management and retrofitting initiatives must prioritise accessible, adaptable stock. An ageing housing stock serving an ageing population with complex health needs makes this urgent.
This research with older Bangladeshi tenants offers a glimpse into a deeper diversity within general needs social housing. Regulatory measures shouldn’t become mere compliance tools; they should become the basis for genuinely knowing tenants, their needs, and how to engage with them effectively.
Link to the research summary and report
Link to the project website Amar bari, amar jibon[my home, my life]
