Access to housing in seniors represents a considerable challenge for those who were unable to acquire a property and must continue in the rental market.
In this regard, the Tejido Urbano Foundation prepared a report based on the cross-checking and monitoring of the Permanent Household Survey (EPH), which mainly indicates that the elderly face serious housing problems.
According to the EPH, The population over 60 years of age in Argentina reaches 4,965,057 individuals, of which 359,754 are tenants. This represents 7.25% of the elderly population and 6.58% of the total number of renters nationwide. This number has doubled in the last 20 years, since in 2004, there were just over 164,000 older adults who rented.
Provinces with the highest and lowest proportion of older tenants
The analysis of the geographical distribution of the older adult tenants reveals significant disparities at the territorial level. While provinces like Corrientes, Catamarca, Santiago del Estero and Resistencia present a low proportion of older people who rent, in the City of Buenos Aires This proportion is considerably higher, making it a key area for the study of this problem.
Other cities such as La Plata, Santa Fe, Neuquén, Mendoza and Río Gallegos also register a relevant proportion of older adult tenantsa phenomenon that can be linked to historical processes of internal migration that drove urban growth in past decades. It is relevant to highlight that more than 33% of the older adult tenants (121,265 people) They were born in another province or country, having settled in these cities in search of job opportunities or a better quality of life.
51% of older renters live alone or with their spouse
The structure of the homes of older adult tenants highlights certain vulnerabilities. 51.3% of this population lives alone or with their spouseboth belonging to the elderly. This is equivalent to approximately 184,711 people living in single-person households or small family units. Within this group, a marked phenomenon of feminization of loneliness is observed: 57.4% of those who live alone are women. This data is relevant when analyzing the situation of greater vulnerability faced by many older women, who, most of them widowed or with limited support networks, may be more exposed to challenges related to social isolation and economic and health difficulties.
The analysis of income in these households reflects a complex economic reality. 40.52% of older adults who live alone are in the first income decilethe lowest, which indicates a very fragile economic situation. When considering the first four deciles, which group the lower-income sectors, it is observed that 72.7% of single-person older adults fall into this low-income category. These data suggest that a large part of this population faces not only social isolation, but also significant difficulties in meeting their basic needs.
What is the monthly income of older adults who rent?
Regarding access to retirement18% of older adults tenants It does not receive this benefit because it is still in activity. For those who have ceased working, retirement is their main source of income, although its impact varies significantly depending on income level. In the lowest deciles, retirement represents practically the only source of resources, while in the highest deciles it is complemented by other income, reflecting a marked difference in the ability to face the costs of old age.
The monthly income of older adult renters, according to data from the first quarter of 2024, varies between $135,000 and $276,500. These amounts force them to allocate a considerable proportion of their resources to paying rent. This raises questions about the type of housing they can access with this income and whether such housing can guarantee an adequate quality of life.
Source: Ambito
