UK’s first LGBTQ+ retirement home to open in the capital

The UK’s first retirement home for LGBTQ+ residents will open in London this summer.

Tonic Housing has bought 19 shared ownership homes in Bankhouse, an assisted living scheme for the elderly developed by One Housing in Lambeth, south London.

The sale was made with a £5.7m loan from the Mayor of London.

The flats will overlook the Thames and facilities include a restaurant, bar, a floating garden and roof terrace, and will ensure that older LGBTQ+ people do not feel the need to go back into the closet in later life.

Anna Kear, the CEO of Tonic Housing said: “We are making history today, realising a long held dream to provide a safe place for older LGBT+ people to live well, in a community where they can be themselves and enjoy their later life. We applaud the Mayor of London for recognising and supporting the needs of older LGBT+ Londoners”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I am proud to support Tonic in creating the UK’s first LGBTQ+ retirement community. London is an open, diverse, inclusive city and I’m delighted to see these long-held plans come to fruition with the help of this loan and my community-led Housing Hub.

“Older Londoners deserve to be able to enjoy their later years in comfort and security, surrounded by a thriving, supportive community. I look forward to seeing this realised at Bankhouse and to supporting Tonic’s work to establish further LGBTQ+ affirming developments in the years to come.”