The Bank of England's wise by their policies of interest rates way below inflation and printing money that causes more inflation have ruined the expectations of pensioners. These policies do not work it would be hoped these people would realize they are like the drunk drinking more in the hope of becoming sober.

Thanks for telling us something we didn't know...... this has nothing to do with the recession and has always been part many people's retirement plans. It also means two thirds is a stonking majority who will not use their properties in this way! What a pointless piece of journalism....

You can also only downsize if ypu have sufficient equity to purchase another reasonable property. In many cases the downsizing will free up less than £100k (Less fees) which won't last long in retirement. The real problem is people are comparing today's pensioners with their expectations of retirement most of whom retired on generous annuity rates and final salary schemes. With the theft of the tax credit by Gordon Brown to support unaffordable spending, the increase in life expectancy, generally poor growth experience of markets over the last 10/15 years and successive closure of nearly all final salary schemes of note many people are now doing nothing towards retirement and simply hoping something will turn up. It won't and the future for the UK looks pretty bleak for people retiring in the future. The blame for this is firmly at politicians door where benign neglect has been the word

You can only downsize if someone has enough money to buy your house first... and with the future potential middle to high earners being saddled with up to £60,000 of student debt, below inflation wage increases and a lack of mortgage lending it is debatable if there will be the demand in the economy

More pointless nonsense based on approx 30 people in the UK according to the article.