Morris provides an in-depth view of life as an older Australian primarily dependent on the Age Pension and living with or without security of housing tenure. As a qualitative study, it is an easy read and a good start for any student, researcher or practitioner wishing to gain insights into the lives of older Australians with limited financial resources. The intersection of adequate affordable housing and quality of life is the key theme.

Morris puts the case that housing tenure fundamentally shapes the lived experiences of older people, their social interactions, wellbeing, ability to age in place and their ability to live a decent life (pp. 13–14), using Amartya Sen's (Reference Sen and Chippero-Martinetti2009) capabilities approach. The 125 interviewees speak for themselves throughout the text, which includes many quotes, and collectively the case is made successfully. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in Sydney and regional New South Wales. Private renters, outright home-owners and social housing tenants are compared throughout the text using the dimensions of: health impacts, purchasing power, housing choice and security, and socialisation. Each chapter has an introduction and a summary with the interviewees’ comments providing the main part of the text where the reader is allowed into the everyday private lives, worries and aspirations of interviewees.

Australian welfare state and social policy is built on assumptions of home-ownership. People are expected to be mortgage-free home-owners by the age of retirement, but this is not the case for all older Australians. Pensioners receive a fortnightly payment sufficient to cover day-to-day living expenses. Those in private rental accommodation receive a small additional allowance, but this is insufficient to offset the costs, particularly in major capital cities. While home-owners fare better relative to their renting peers, their lives are nonetheless overshadowed by issues related to the ongoing maintenance and running costs of a home. Limited finances means every expense is considered carefully and justified in terms of need. However, home-owners who have some savings to draw on for unexpected expenses or to take a short holiday, claim to be relatively content with their lives. The interviewees are part of a generation who are experienced in how to stretch budgets, and shop for bargains. The policy concern is that future generations are less likely to have this life experience and resourcefulness when it comes to managing on a significantly low income.

The key strength of the book is the ease with which the reader can absorb the realities of life for older Australians dependent on the Age Pension, particularly those in the private rental market. For this group, the lack of adequate or secure tenure underpins every decision, action and worry. For example, weighing up a Aus $2.50 bus fare against a loaf of bread (p. 128) demonstrates that the choices people have are really no choice at all when it comes to living a decent life.

The book has ten chapters. The first two covering an introduction to housing tenure and an ageing society, the private rental market and the policy issues related to older Australians. The third introduces the capacity to pay for accommodation on the Age Pension. Chapter 4 investigates shopping – a major activity for older Australians. Purchasing power is closely linked the ability to live a decent life. Chapter 5 examines how financial limitations affect day-to-day living, such as paying for electricity to heat the home in winter. Chapter 6 looks at social ties and leisure activities; and the impact of housing tenure and limited finances on health are covered in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 returns to the private rental market and reveals the potential for eviction due to the pending sale of the property. With recent policy shifts, public housing tenants now worry that their home will be targeted for urban renewal and fear they will be forced to move from their established community. The theme is continued in Chapter 9 by discussing the increasing residualisation of social housing and its implications for older tenants. Chapter 10 concludes by asking where to from here? The discussion reviews the previous chapters and provides a final comparison between the three groups in the study: outright home-owners, renters in the private market and renters in public or social housing. The methodology is covered in the appendices. Endnotes, references and an index are also provided.

For those who work in the community sector, particularly in housing or ageing advocacy services, the book provides few, if any, new revelations. It does, however, document this knowledge using the words and experiences of older Australians. The book gives voice to these experiences, brings to life the issues, and adds emphasis to the demands for policy change by housing and ageing advocacy groups.