Homeowners’ appetite for downsizing and renting a retirement property when they get older continues to grow, according to new research by retirement firm Girlings Retirement Rentals.

The firm says that has been a 7% rise in enquiries from people looking for a smaller home to rent once their working life is over in the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period in 2014, and there has been a 34% rise in visits to its website.

Girlings says that there is a severe lack of purpose built retirement property, either to rent or buy in the UK, and many people who want to downsize are currently unable to do so. The research says that less than 3% of housing in the pipeline is aimed at older people and yet, in 20 years’ time, those aged 65 or over will make up 23% of the population.

“Our continuing message to government is that the UK desperately needs more purpose built retirement property so that older people have the option to downsize,” said Peter Girling, chair of Girlings Retirement Rentals. He added: “Many older people are stuck in homes that are too big for them and have little choice of a suitable alternative.”