DLF Enters Senior Living Housing Market with ₹2,000 Crore Gurugram Project

DLF, India's largest realty developer, is making a significant move into the senior living housing market with a ₹2,000 crore project in Gurugram. This initiative, expected to launch later this quarter, marks DLF’s entry into a rapidly growing segment that is gaining substantial traction.

The project is designed to cater to urban, financially independent seniors who seek care, comfort, and community engagement. The decision to venture into senior living is driven by the rising senior population in India, which is projected to increase from 162 million in 2025 to 191 million by 2030, and further to 346 million by 2050. This demographic shift presents a compelling opportunity for developers like DLF to meet the growing demand for specialized housing.

Gurugram, with its robust healthcare facilities and proximity to Delhi, has emerged as an ideal location for senior living projects. Industry experts believe that the city's infrastructure and amenities make it an attractive destination for this segment. According to a joint report by the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) and JLL India, the senior living sector in India is poised for significant growth, with nearly 15,000 senior homes expected to be operational by 2030, representing an estimated investment of ₹26,000 crore.

The report also highlights that the organized senior living stock in India has grown from 7,147 units in 2014 to 22,157 units in 2023. This growth is expected to continue, with projections of 14,900 units by 2030, representing a cumulative investment of ₹26,000 crore. In scenarios of accelerated growth, the supply could reach 25,500 units at a cost of ₹39,000 crore. With additional policy support, the sector could expand to 34,600 units, amounting to ₹50,100 crore in investment.

Despite these optimistic projections, a significant demand-supply gap is anticipated, given India’s rapidly aging population and evolving housing expectations. The urban financially independent older generation market is expected to require 2.3 million units by 2030, up from 1.7 million units in 2025. This rising demand underscores the timely nature of DLF’s investment.

However, DLF's recent quarterly results have shown a decline in sales bookings, dropping to ₹419 crore in the third quarter of the current financial year, a sharp decline compared to ₹12,039 crore in the corresponding period last year. The company attributed this to a pause in sales at its ultra-luxury project, ‘The Dahlias,’ and the absence of new residential launches during the quarter.

Explaining the slowdown, Ashok Tyagi, Managing Director of DLF Ltd, stated that the lower sales in Q3 were largely due to timing. “We did not launch new housing projects and paused bookings at The Dahlias,” he said. Despite this, DLF remains confident of meeting its full-year pre-order sales forecast of ₹20,000–22,000 crore, driven by a robust launch plan and high demand for premium homes.

DLF has resumed sales at The Dahlias, its ultra-luxury project in Gurugram’s DLF Phase 5. The super-luxury complex, which spreads over 17 acres and consists of 420 homes and penthouses, was launched in October 2024. By December, about 220 homes had been booked, generating ₹15,716 crore in sales. Prices at The Dahlias have risen by more than 25% over pre-launch levels, reflecting sustained demand in the ultra-luxury segment.

Apart from the senior living space, DLF plans to launch more residential projects in various cities such as Gurugram, Mumbai, Panchkula, and Goa in the upcoming quarters. The company currently has a large development potential of 280 million sq ft in the residential and commercial spaces, with an annuity portfolio of over 49 million sq ft.

With its entry into the senior living segment, DLF has joined a growing list of players diversifying into new formats. The company views its Gurugram project as a pilot for future senior living initiatives, positioning itself to capitalize on the growing demand for organized and managed housing for the elderly.