Around 60% of homeowners aged 65 and over have thought about downsizing, but over half said stamp duty was a barrier to doing so, a survey revealed. A survey of Family Building Society members found that around half of older homeowners were reluctant to downsize due to concerns they would lose links to their friends, family and local community. It suggested that the government pilot a stamp duty relief scheme, which mirrored the relief available to first-time buyers, for older homeowners to reduce the cost of moving. “The government has a lot of work to do if it is to encourage older homeowners to downsize. Releasing underutilised family homes on to the market would encourage others to move up the housing ladder providing more opportunities for first-time buyers and growing families.”