More than 60,000 homeowners are forced to sell up each year to pay for a place in a care home, according to a leading charity.
The figure has been rising fast because of the growing numbers of elderly Britons and the fact that many of those entering old age bought homes during the property booms of the past four decades.
However, an ever-increasing share of the wealth they hoped to leave to their families is being seized by the state to pay for their care in later life.
Last year half of the cost of care for the elderly - £6billion - was taken from the pockets of the middle classes who own their own homes or who have savings.
The 60,000 figure was made public yesterday by the charity Counsel and Care. It is to put forward plans for easing the plight of those who fail the state means test and so have to pay the £500-a-week plus costs of a care home place for themselves.
Counsel and Care’s estimate follows figures put forward by the House of Commons library, which suggested at the weekend that 45,000 people a year sell their homes to pay care home bills, a rise of 5,000 since 2003.
The charity’s estimate is closest to the 70,000 a year level that is widely accepted among advice and pressure groups and local authorities
A report by the Centre for Policy Studies has called on the British Government to learn the lessons of the 1990s and save the ‘tsunami’ of repossessions expected for this year.
The think tank, which was established by Sir Keith Joseph and Margaret Thatcher in 1974, stands to promote the principles of a free society and free market economics.
Their call comes a few weeks after church leaders in the UK wrote to the Prime Minister calling for an economic recovery plan to be launched in the midst of the global recession.
Entitled ‘Save 100,000s homes from repossession’ the report from the CPS welcomes the limited steps taken by the Government – such as changes to stamp duty – but argues that these would only help a few households.
The think tank warns that if the Government does not act, repossession orders could exceed those in the 1990s.
Report author Natalie Elphicke, said: “The Courts have huge discretion in determining civil claims and can postpone, adjourn, stay or suspend a claim for repossession. If we are to stop the tsunami of repossessions then the Government must recognise the role of Civil Courts rather than ignore them.”
She added: “Court guidance for dealing with repossession hearings should be improved to assist those in need. There is a growing amount of case law that will help people stay in their home, but no clear guidance.”
Such reforms would be practical and would take account of each individual’s unique circumstances, she said.
For more information, http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3863