Once again, we’re seeing lazy policy ideas and poor media commentary pin the blame for Australia’s housing crisis on older Australians.

This time, it’s about retirees “hogging” homes, a claim that doesn’t hold up under any real scrutiny.

The Retirement Living Council recently suggested that over 59,000 homes could be “freed up” if older Australians weren’t worried that selling their family home would reduce their pension.

They’ve recommended policy changes to help lower- and middle-income retirees “rightsize” without financial penalties.

But some media outlets and commentators have twisted this, claiming that if Baby Boomers would just move out, we’d fix the housing supply in Australia overnight.

That’s not just unrealistic, it’s nonsense.

Let’s set the record straight: this isn’t about older Australians being selfish or stubborn. The real issue is two decades of policy failure across all levels of government.

The problem isn’t who lives in what house, the problem is we haven’t built enough homes, full stop.

Downsising doesn’t increase housing supply, it just shifts ownership. A retiree moving from a large home into a smaller one doesn’t add a new property to the market.

That’s not creating supply, it’s just reshuffling demand.

And it’s not like these homes are affordable to young Australians anyway. Most Boomers are living in properties that first-home buyers couldn’t afford to begin with. A downsize doesn’t magically make these homes accessible.

Financially, downsizing can also be a losing deal. The combined cost of selling, buying, stamp duty and agent fees can exceed $100,000, a huge barrier for retirees. Add to that the emotional value of staying in a long-term home, close to family and community, and it’s clear why many choose not to move.

Even if every older Australian sold their home tomorrow, it wouldn’t solve the core problem: not enough dwellings. Australia needs a large-scale boost in residential construction to meet demand.

The housing crisis will only be solved with real solutions, boosting housing supply in Australia, reforming planning laws, and incentivising development where it’s most needed. Pointing fingers at older homeowners is just a political distraction.