Project R-12785

Exploring subjective wellbeing and housing with older renters (Research)

Population ageing is one of the most important challenges of the 21st century (United Nations, 2019). In Belgium, the number of people aged 60 and above was 25.3% in 2019 and this is expected to shift to 32.9% by 2050. In 2019, 5.7% of the population was >80 years. This number will reach 10.5% in 2050. These sharp increases will significantly impact our housing sector, which at present is not adapted to this heterogeneous population, all the more looking at our rental housing market (private and social). The context wherein older renters live will always need to address objective architectural parameters, but there is a growing request to also consider issues about people's subjective wellbeing (SWB). This FWO project starts from the observation that today, there is a lack of knowledge on the influence of housing design features on the SWB of older renters. Three research objectives are proposed: (i) Identify heterogeneity among older renting adults (ii) Understand how innovative housing (concepts and characteristics) could contribute to older renters' SWB (iii) Develop and evaluate spatial scenarios for innovative rental housing for older adults' SWB. The expertise gained through the research (to be performed by 2 pre-doctoral and 1 part-time post-doctoral researcher) will generate a better understanding on how different aspects relating to housing and neighbourhood contribute to older renters' SWB.

01 October 2022 - 30 September 2026