More older people struggling with housing debts

RISING numbers of older people are facing homelessness as they struggle to make mortgage and rent payments.

National debt charity StepChange has seen a significant rise in the number of over 60s asking for help.

In Oldham, 73 people aged over 60 asked StepChange for advice over average debts of £15,222.

Average rent arrears have jumped from £755 in 2009 to £825 since 2009; average mortgage arrears of the over 60s have jumped from £3,563 to £3,998 in the same period.

The charity is also concerned about the number of older people who still have mortgages. Last year, 4,317 over-60s still had a mortgage to repay.