Generation Rent claims renting harms a tenant’s mental health

Generation Rent claims renting harms a tenant’s mental health

0:03 AM, 15th October 2024, About 3 weeks ago 55

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Renting privately in England is apparently so traumatic that it’s having a devastating impact on tenants’ mental health, Generation Rent reports.

The tenant campaign group has carried out a survey and found that almost nine in 10 renters report that their mental health has been negatively affected by their housing situation.

Nearly two in five said it has impacted their physical health.

The survey, by the group and the National Survivor User Network (NSUN), received responses from 814 private renters.

‘Landlords don’t need a reason to evict’

Ben Twomey, the chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Because landlords don’t need a reason to evict us, renters live in constant insecurity which does incredible damage to our psychological wellbeing.

“It’s no surprise that if you’ve experienced a Section 21 eviction then you are much more likely to live in fear of another.

“One in five homes are privately rented, yet renting in England is time and again proven to be woefully inadequate to meet the basic needs of individuals and families.”

He added: “Now, more than ever, we are in desperate need of vital rental reforms. Westminster is bringing forward a new law to improve security for renters, but it must be made stronger to stop back-door evictions happening through unaffordable rent hikes.

“This, as well as more funding for local councils and more social and affordable homes, is how we will end the mental health crisis at the heart of private renting.”

‘Issues with private renting’

Amy Wells, the senior communications and membership manager at NSUN, said: “This research spotlights the ways in which issues with private renting, such as affordability, disrepair and the threat of eviction, impacts our mental health by not allowing us to feel in control of our lives in a safe and stable home environment.

“We call for urgent change to the UK private renting system, including through a strengthened Renters’ Rights Bill and improved social security support to help address the spiralling costs of privately renting.”

The survey also found that:

  • More than three-quarters of private renters worry about affording their rent each month
  • More than four in five renters worry about being evicted
  • Overwhelmingly, renters felt stressed when reporting repairs to their landlord or letting agent

Around half of renters state that a landlord or letting agent had behaved in a way towards them that made them feel physically or psychologically unsafe.


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Paul

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9:43 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Going to work used to effect my mental health. I would have much rather been sat in a Spa then spend the afternoons on the beach. However, I need to earn money. FFS !

Retired banker

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10:04 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 15/10/2024 - 10:09
I think it’s rather presumptuous of us as landlords to decide what people fear. I wouldn’t like the uncertainty of rented accommodation as you lack the feeling of control. Indeed my daughter was served a section 21 during the first week of her tenancy as it transpired the landlord only ever wanted to rent for 6 months, but it put her off renting with good reason.

Judith Llewellyn

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10:24 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

More than 4 in 5 renters worry about being evicted ! Isn’t that 5? Only worry about eviction if you don’t pay the rent ir annoy other tenants. It’s called restraint and fitting in.

dismayed landlord

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10:40 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 15/10/2024 - 10:53I tried that. Tenants p about for 8 months then wanted another 5 months to get their finances together. Hope fully they leave in the next 3 weeks as S21 served. In any event I’ll sell if the idiots in power leave the cut where it is. If not I will keep it empty! Costs the LA more to pay temporary accommodation that it costs me to pay ctax and with any luck the shortfall in home for sale will raise the price anyway!

TheMaluka

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10:43 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Retired banker at 19/10/2024 - 10:04
This just points to the fact that there should be at least two kinds of tenancy, a fixed period and a forever. In the past the social sector has provided the forever tenancy and the PRS the fixed period.
Some 40 years ago, I let my primary residence for a period of two years whilst I was away overseas. With the new regime in place I would not dare do the same, resulting in an empty house for two years - just what is needed in the middle of a housing crisis.

dismayed landlord

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10:47 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 15/10/2024 - 12:58
Well said.

Keith Wellburn

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10:47 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Retired banker at 19/10/2024 - 10:04
A great pity more was not done to devise a system that would match the aspirations of tenant and landlord regarding length of occupancy.

In the years after the introduction of ASTs and the market I was in at the time it was tenants who were moving around very freely, a typical comment would be ‘I want to be nearer my mum’ - that turned out to be four streets nearer in the small town. Good tenants who wanted to stay put long term were worth their weight in gold and some of my 6 month ASTs ran for 20+ years.

What we have now is an effective ban coming in on letting any property during probate or the owner occupier moving away for up to a year for work or family reasons - as the new Section 8 ground for selling or moving in requires 4 months notice after an initial 12 months of the tenancy.

Factor in the problems with insurance on property empty for more than 90 days and we will be moving to a situation where owners are boarding up properties as there seems to be no mechanism to rent them out for periods of up to a year.

I’m looking forward to Shelter, Generation Rent and Angela Rayner explaining how these empty properties that could have been let for up to a year have benefitted the rental market.

dismayed landlord

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11:07 AM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 15/10/2024 - 17:44
Would the question on size of the landlord not breach the data protection rules?

Martin

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13:15 PM, 19th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

This absolutely smacks of loaded questions in the survey.
Would you be worried if your landlord issued a section 21 notice?
Would trying to find another home with one months notice impact on your mental wellbeing?

And so on.

It is a complete load of tosh.

A sample size of 814!

No one evicts without a good reason - our basic truth is empty houses cost money.

The housing shortage isn't caused by landlords. It's caused by a lack of landlords.
Builders will build houses only if they can sell them.
We could quite easily hit labours new house target, if there were buyers out there.
It has always been the case that some people can't afford or don't want to buy.
It has always been the case that a certain number of new houses are purchased by landlords.
The problem is now that no one wants to become a landlord. So no one is buying so no one is building.

Mick Roberts

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7:08 AM, 20th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris @ Possession Friend at 15/10/2024 - 23:01
Well said Chris.

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