The 10th of October marked World Mental Health Day, a day when many organisations will flag their support for mental health. How does a movement or sector contribute to better mental health and what can the private rented sector do to actively encourage better mental health for its tenants?
First, an assessment of mental health and wellbeing in the private rented sector. Generation Rent released a report in October 2024 which highlighted some pretty shocking statistics for the PRS:
- 9 out of 10 respondents say private renting negatively affects their mental health
- 3 out of 4 respondents worry about paying their rent each month, 1 out of 2 worry a lot about this
- 86% of respondents with a disability say private renting has negatively impacted their disability of mental health condition
- 88% of private renters felt stressed reporting repairs
- Half of respondents felt that their landlord or letting agent behaved in a way that made them feel physically or psychologically unsafe
Similarly, the Jospeh Rowntree Foundation has found that private renters are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety compared to homeowners. These are statistics that simply cannot be ignored.
This is not a new or emerging phenomenon either. The UK Centre for Collaborative Housing Evidence released a report on housing and wellbeing in July 2021 that neatly signposts how private renters circumstances can lead to less favourable mental health and wellbeing outcomes. They identified several issues that impact on private renters, including:
- Dwelling characteristics and neighbourhood (condition of property)
- Unaffordability
- Security of tenure
- Relational aspects, connection and belonging
- Perception of safety
- Autonomy and control
- Stigma or status anxiety
- Discrimination faced by those suffering mental health problems in securing a tenancy in the PRS
Apart from perhaps stigma or status anxiety, which is personal perception of social norms and constructs, private landlords have power to allay or aggravate all other issues listed above (relational aspects and connection can, as outlined in the CACHe report, be directly linked to feelings of embarrassment with one housing situation causing them not to engage with friends or loved ones in their home).
The private rented sector is a varied and disparate collective, comprising landlords of different sizes and resources, but there are some very simple things that could be done to ensure that the actions of any landlords do not negatively impact on the mental health of tenants.
Standards
Ensuring homes meet The Repairing Standard as the very minimum, that homes are safe, secure and with fixtures in proper working order helps to meet the basic human needs of a secure home environment. Investing in works going beyond the standard are an investment not only for your future tenant but also for the landlord as better surroundings may lead to a longer tenancy.
Actioning repairs
Related to the Standard, if a tenant does need to report a repair, making this process as easy and straightforward as possible, and actioning repairs in a timely manner can all go a long way to alleviate anxieties for the PRS tenant. If the report is not a repair, addressing the issues they have raised should be actioned just as quickly.
Communication
At the heart of many mental health issues is a deep discomfort with change or uncertainty. Good communication with your tenants can make a huge difference, even when communicating bad news.
Autonomy/control
As with change/uncertainty, a lack of control can also be a major factor for those with poor mental health. As has been expressed in this blog previously and will be mandated in part 3 of the new housing bill should it become law, giving tenants some autonomy over decoration choices or pets can contribute to their overall wellbeing.
Avoiding discriminatory practices
There still remains a huge amount of unhelpful stigma and outdated stereotypes around those that suffer from poor mental health. Despite headlines to the contrary, a lot of people who suffer from a mental health condition will be employed and going about their daily lives, albeit this may be harder for them, or they might need additional support.
However, perceptions that tenants with mental health problems are more likely to be problematic are inaccurate and, if filtered into practice, unlawful. Education, awareness, and confidence to have open, honest and empathetic conversations can ensure that landlords do not act unlawfully or unethically here.
Affordability
It goes without saying that affordability impacts mental health, and the topic would be deserving of an article of its’ own. Very few private landlords are increasing rents without the need to cover other increasing costs of their own, such as mortgages on rental properties.
An awareness of the impact, how it is communicated and the psychological safety that has built up in the tenant-landlord relationship will all factor in how much this impacts a person’s mental health. There is, however, no getting away from the fact that if rents are going up, your tenant’s sense of security and ability to meet their basic need of housing may be threatened and will impact them so this should be considered in all rent increases.
Conclusion
The Generation Rent report makes for unedifying reading for the PRS. Whilst some of the issues start at a macro level which is hard for the individual private landlord to control, all landlords can consider how the way the operate may affect their services user’s mental health.
It is also true that the last few years have seen increasing pressures on landlords as well, which may have a negative impact on their mental health.
By viewing the services we provide through a mental health and wellbeing lens, we can start to understand where improvements can be made, and work towards not only a better, but a more inclusive sector and society.
Anyone in crisis should reach out for support, the Samaritans helpline is open 24 hours a day and can be reached by calling 116 123.
