Crime fiction writer Sharon Birch, 58, and her partner Stephen are desperate to downsize from their five-bedroom townhouse in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool.
They are among the almost 90 pc of people aged over 65 who are rattling around homes that are now too big for them, according to figures from research institute the International Longevity Centre.
But like millions of homeowners who would like to downsize, Sharon and Stephen’s plans are being thwarted by stamp duty, which they say is