23 September 2025

Written by:

Audley Villages

Bananas for bungalows

For some years now, Britons have been bananas for bungalows – with one in five planning to move to a home without stairs, yet according to the HomeOwners Alliance only 1% of new homes registered are a bungalow.

Latest 2025 research by the HomeOwners Alliance reveals that "1.2 million UK homeowners aged 55 and over have put plans to move on hold in the past two years, despite initially considering a move.". The HOA also reported;

The shortage of bungalows is also a major issue, with 38% of homeowners aged 55+ saying they would prefer a bungalow for their next move, making bungalows the most popular choice among this group. However, builders are turning away from them, as NHBC data shows they made up 11% of new homes in 1990, but just 1% in 2024.

As reported by the Daily Mail in 2023, a poll of 2,000 people, surveyed by estate agents Strutt & Parker in 2022 found that:

22% of home-hunters want a bungalow as their future home
18% want a new build
16% are looking for a cottage

Two years on and the demand for suitable housing - aka bungalows - is higher than ever but without an increase in the number of bungalows built. If over 60s are to downsize, Britain needs more bungalows.

Audley Group CEO, Nick Sanderson, added

“It’s not just bungalows that are in short supply for would-be downsizers. There is a chronic shortage of all types of age-specific properties in our housing market. Only 8,000 units are expected to be completed this year, a number dwarfed by the 50,000 needed to meet our shifting demographics.

“Ahead of the Autumn Statement, the government must look at how it meets the needs of the whole housing market. Mandating the delivery of age-specific properties, providing incentives for downsizers and stimulating movement up and down the housing ladder.”

Audley homeowners

At Audley, we see that the nation’s love of bungalows is even more profound among the older generation. When searching for retirement living options, 9 in 10 of our homeowners aged over 55 prefer a bungalow or apartment to any other option.

In fact, 91% of Audley properties are single-level bungalows or apartments. In later life, reduced agility, tackling stairs, maintenance and gardening are key triggers prompting the decision to move to a retirement village like those Audley provides.

90% of Audley owners choose a two-bedroom home
8% of Audley properties have one bedroom, and the remaining have three or more bedrooms

Find your nearest Audley Village

So why are bungalows best in retirement?

Great accessibility: The omission of stairs of course makes an apartment or bungalow the ideal choice for senior living or for someone with limited mobility.
They’re easy to maintain: A single-storey property like a bungalow or apartment means less cleaning, and no staircase to vacuum. It’s a single-storey home with everything you need to live comfortably.
They’re usually open plan: Open-plan living brings more light into each room and gives the feel of more space.
Small yet stylish. Modern apartments and bungalows certainly do not lack the wow factor. You can create an impeccably presented, stylish home, flooded with natural light, clever storage and your personal style.

Open-plan living area with a modern kitchen, dining table with four chairs, TV, wooden sideboard, and decorative wall art and plants.

Bedroom with a large window covered by vertical blinds and floral curtains, a double bed with blue-striped bedding, light carpet, and white walls with framed pictures.

Owners in their retirement village garden

Living room with blue walls, a large window, a TV on a black stand, blue sofas with cushions, a wooden desk, and modern lamps.

A bright bedroom with a double bed, green and yellow accents, modern lighting, wall art, and glass doors opening to a balcony.

Stanbridge Earls retirement property best dressed terrace

Modern open-plan living room and kitchen with large windows, green sofa, yellow armchair, breakfast bar with stools, and bright, neutral decor.

A bright living room with a beige sectional sofa, floral armchair, and glass doors leading to a balcony. Decor includes a framed artwork, patterned rug, and various cushions.

Modern open-plan kitchen and living area with blue cabinets, gold light fixture, sofa with patterned cushions, and large windows overlooking a garden.

A modern open-plan living and dining area with light wood flooring, a round dining table, upholstered chairs, a patterned cabinet, and large windows letting in natural light.

Modern bathroom with beige tiles, a glass-enclosed walk-in shower, wall-mounted towel warmer, floating vanity with sink, and a large mirror above the sink.

Why is it called a bungalow?

A bungalow is a single-storey house with a sloping roof, usually small and often surrounded by a veranda. The name derives from a Hindi word meaning “a house in the Bengali style” and came into English during the era of the British administration of India. The first modern British bungalows were designed by the little-known English architect John Taylor (1818–1884), and built at Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, between 1869 and 1870.

Housing styles through the ages

Looking for a bungalow?

If you're over 55 and looking to move to a bungalow or apartment, please get in touch with the Audley team who can welcome you to a village for a tour. The Audley experience is so very different than what you might expect of retirement living. Come and take a look for yourself.

The example featured to the left is Audley Ellerslie in Malvern. The video features the show apartment at Audley Cooper's Hill in Surrey.

Find your nearest village