Samenvatting

How strong is the influence of ageing and the population decline on the amount and quality of the demand for housing? On basis of a broad sample including English households dating from 2001, it is shown that human capital, as measured by education, is a substantive factor in the demand for housing. On the other hand, factors such as chronic illness, which decrease human capital, have a negative effect on the housing consumption. Assuming that every generation is better educated and healthier than the previous generations, this will lead to a growing total need for housing in an ageing society, even when the amount of households will not further increase.