Research into rented housing’s impact on health and wellbeing launched

Research into rented housing’s impact on health and wellbeing launched

0:03 AM, 15th January 2025, About 10 hours ago

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Research by district and borough councils into how housing conditions and experiences affect the health and well-being of tenants and landlords has been launched.

The councils in Suffolk are working with the University of Suffolk to help use the research to inform council policies and initiatives to improve housing for tenants.

Researchers want to hear from tenants about their homes and how where they live affects how they feel.

They also want Suffolk landlords to discuss the measures they’ve put in place to support the health and wellbeing of their tenants.

Also, the impact of those measures on their health and wellbeing will be needed.

Landlords subject to new regulations

Cllr David Beavan, the East Suffolk Council cabinet member of housing, said: “The New Year will bring great change to the private rented sector as Section 21 no-fault evictions are finally abolished and landlords are subject to new regulation on the decent home standard and rent controls.

“Many renters will now be free to complain about their lets without fear of eviction.”

He added: “We have led the successful Safer Suffolk Renters campaign as well as set up our own ethical letting company.

“We are now launching an innovative collaboration with the NHS in Lowestoft to target fuel poor tenants with respiratory conditions in poorly insulated homes.

“We welcome this research as we always want to hear from tenants but also want to support good landlords to navigate the new legislation.”

‘Good landlords in Suffolk’

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, the West Suffolk cabinet member for housing, said: “A home should be a sanctuary, a place where people can relax and escape some of the pressures of life.

“But we already know that poor living conditions including homes that aren’t kept up to a decent standard of repair, are leaving residents exposed to cold, damp and other hazards which are damaging to their health and wellbeing.”

He added: “This research aims to go beyond that to uncover some of the other issues tenants feel about the place they call home.

“It’s not just tenants though. We recognise there are many good landlords in Suffolk and through this research we hope to capture some of the good work they are already doing to best support the health and wellbeing of their tenants.”

Work to support landlords

The findings will be anonymised and together with other evidence will help inform the district and borough councils, in their work to support landlords in improving living conditions for their tenants.

Robert Read, a research associate at the University of Suffolk who is conducting the study, said: “The private rented sector increasingly provides housing to people of all ages and from all backgrounds and our research so far has revealed a wide range of experiences.

“We are keen to hear from tenants and landlords across all parts of Suffolk so that we can build a comprehensive picture of private renting in the county.”


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