Moving home can be a big decision but planning ahead can help to make sure that you are able to take the time to find the right home to suit your needs. People might decide to move for a number of reasons and benefits could include better accessibility, a more manageable home that needs less maintenance, better energy efficiency, being closer to family and friends, or a better location.
This section includes information on what you might like to think about when considering moving home.
Place
Think about where would best suit your future housing needs. Think about the location, transport links and how easy it would be to access local shops, parks and services like doctors and dentists, or to visit family and friends. If you rely on your car for transport, it’s also important to think about things like parking availability, Low Emission Zones, and things like available charging points if you have an electric car.
It’s also important to think about your future wants and needs – are there good community groups and activities? How accessible are local services and parks? What is the public transport like if you had to give up your car?
Housing options
Different types of housing are available to suit different needs.
Social landlords (housing associations and local councils) provide rented homes that are more affordable than renting privately. Mainstream homes can often be adapted to meet different needs and social landlords can provide advice and support to their tenants. For people who need a bit of extra support, sheltered housing and Housing with Care are options to consider. These will differ depending on the provider but often include services like warden call services, on-site staff and meal services. Sheltered housing is often a great option for those who want to live independently and just need a little extra support or help with some daily activities, and can also be a great social communities to live in. Housing with Care can provide more intensive care support for those who need it.
The private rented sector might not be able to provide as much support for tenants, but could provide more choice in an area where there is very little social housing or long waiting lists. Rents can vary a lot depending on location and the size of the home. If you decide to privately rent, you might want to ask the landlord or letting agency about things like any adaptations to the property you might need, any repairs which need done, and the energy efficiency of the property. New tenants in the private rented sector should receive a Private Rented Tenancy, which affords you various rights as a tenant when it comes to rent adjudication, eviction notices, and deposit returns. You can find out more about renters’ rights on the Scottish Government’s website here.
Buying a home can also provide more choice and allow more flexibility for you to adapt and personalise the space to suit changing future needs. A key point to consider is accessibility – whether there are steps into the home and/or stairs within it to access bathrooms or bedrooms for example. Long-term maintenance could also be a consideration, what the costs of maintenance would be and how maintenance could be managed.
New build homes have been designed to accommodate enhanced accessibility standards and have much more flexible and adaptable layouts than older properties, enabling owners to stay in their home for longer. As a minimum, they must include level access to at least one entrance and a ground floor that can be fully adapted into an accessible apartment layout. This means a downstairs toilet or cupboard can be converted into a shower room. Other benefits such as wider hallways, the positioning of sockets and switches, and staircases designed to accommodate a lift if required can all help to make life easier.
If you are unsure about what would be best for you or want some general advice, get in touch with your local council for a Housing Options appointment. You might also like to visit a local home builder to find out what options may be available to meet your specific needs in the area you want to live.