Press release

Survey: Two out of three tenants want more senior-friendly flats

Hamburg (September 3, 2014) - Germany's tenants worry about their living arrangements in old age. Two thirds believe that their current home is unsuitable for life as a senior or with disabilities. Sixty percent believe that the elderly are left to fend for themselves in their living environments. These are the findings of a population-representative survey carried out by TAG Immobilien AG with the Technical University of Darmstadt. It involved interviews with 1,000 tenants in Germany.

"In the years ahead, the proportion of the population requiring daily assistance will increase. Housing companies urgently need to prepare for this and adapt their portfolios accordingly. New and creative solutions are required here," says Claudia Hoyer, the TAG Executive Board member responsible for real estate management. At this time, only five percent of the country's eleven million senior households are wheelchair-accessible.

From assisted living to neighbourhood concepts and flat-sharing communities, there are a variety of ways to create suitable housing for seniors. "Real-estate companies should see such concepts as opportunities rather than a hurdle," says Hoyer. "The idea should be to help older people live a self-determined, autonomous and independent life for as long as possible - including eldercare services on request." For example, in Erfurt TAG Immobilien has its own representative from a welfare association on the premises to look after the needs of older tenants, advise them on receiving eldercare in their own home, and handle shopping trips in town. The tenants here live in barrier-free apartments with wheelchair ramps, wide doors, and sufficient space in the toilets, along with floor-level showers, glass balconies and a lift.

There are similar offers in other cities. In Gera, TAG Wohnen and Caritas will jointly open a consulting, meeting and communication centre on over 270 square meters in October 2014, with the aim of developing a resilient network of neighbourhood assistance. "People want to grow old in their own homes and living environment, despite increasing limitations. Housing companies such as TAG Immobilien can provide assistance in designing a self-determined life, at all stages of life, by offering leisure activities, advice, flexibility and by adapting living spaces," says Andreas Zube, Managing Director of Caritas in Gera.

In Erfurt and Döbeln, TAG Wohnen organises neighbourhood parties and community gardens for young and old to lift tenants out of their anonymity and strengthen a sense of community. Because, as it turns out, young people want to help support their older neighbours. 81 percent of German tenants would be willing help people in need in their neighbourhood.

About TAG Immobilien AG

TAG Immobilien AG an MDAX-listed company with a more than 125-year history. Its primary locations are in the Greater Hamburg and Berlin areas, the Salzgitter region, as well as Thuringia / Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. TAG currently manages about 74,000 dwellings and the associated commercial areas, garages and parking spaces. The company's goal is to improve the quality of housing for its tenants. In line with this, TAG adapts its holdings to modern living needs to, gets involved in the communities of its residential quarters, and promotes a good neighbourhood spirit. The Group continually reduces vacancy and increasing the value of its total portfolio through prudent management of its properties and a future-oriented/forward-looking development of its overall portfolio.

Press enquiries:
TAG Immobilien AG
Head of Investor & Public Relations
Dominique Mann
Phone +49 (0) 40 380 32 300
Fax +49 (0) 40 380 32 390
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