In the UK, as in many other countries around the world, there is an ‘affordability crisis’ in housing. Young people feel the brunt of this; they are priced out of many areas because both owner-occupied and private rental housing are unaffordable. This trend has translated into a rise in the residential separation of older and younger adults; many areas are predominantly composed of residents from a single generation. Given that people’s housing requirements change as they move through different stages of their life, for example, couples wishing to have more space when they have children, and that certain types of housing are generally grouped together, perhaps this current trend is expected. However, this increasing age segregation can be concerning if it stems from young people being unable to afford the housing they need.

This spatial separation of generations impedes possibilities for interaction between older and younger generations, which has ramifications for policy on social cohesion and the organization of society. In addition to the associated loss of cross-age interactions outside the family, there is likely to be competition between age groups for limited public resources to fund the services and institutions demanded by their associated age-specific needs. For instance, a district largely comprised of young couples with children would have greater overcrowding in schools and one full of mostly elderly residents may have greater demands on healthcare. Hence what might at first glance appear to be a crisis in housing may lead to multiple consequences for society unless it is effectively and promptly addressed.