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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Beaver

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11:20 AM, 21st October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Keith Wellburn at 19/10/2024 - 10:47
I have also had situations where tenants needed to rent property for 5-6 months because their own properties had been flooded and they needed somewhere to live whilst repairs were being done.

Miserable Old Git

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16:31 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

So in future, we will have to pay for tenants to have phsyciatric assessments prior to moving into a property, this will be made compulsory no doubt by new regulations, if you fail to undertake you will be fined 10 times the annual rent and get a 10year ban as a landlord.
Welcome to Communist woke Britain.
I wonder if anybody has ever considered the stress and suffering caused to Landlords by the likes of Ben Toomey, perhaps landlords should sue him.

GlanACC

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7:56 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

I had to evict someone one for non paying rent. Went to court and they played the 'mental health card'. Luckily for me the magistrate had heard all this before and asked why the tenant hadn't brought supporting documentation or a case worker with them. The tenant hadn't a clue what he was talking about and just assumed saying the words 'mental health' would buy her time. It did .. 3 weeks to get out . Not so sure magistrates / judges are so inclined these days to support the landlord.

REB

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8:46 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

When I first posted about this I used the term 'professional' to distinguish the different types of landlords. This was not intended to be detrimental to others, but I think TheMaluka has better identified the issue I was trying to illustrate. Many years ago there were two types of letting. One for those who really wished to make the rented property their long term home and others who regarded it as a stage. what I meant by using the term 'professionals' referred to those landlords that were quite happy for tenants to remain in the property for the rest of their lives so long as they kept paying the appropriate rent and adhered to all other terms of the agreement. Other landlords have different requirements. All that is required is flexibility in the AST (and of SDLT) so that both parties can insert the term they actually want, with proper remedies for those (on either side) should those terms be broken. Compensation (just like a purchaser ending a fixed mortgage early) on either side or another remedy (the old arrangements used to provide an opportunity to the landlord to offer an alternative if the property needed to be sold) etc. Landlords could opt to be in the defined long-term tenancy category and then tenants would know the basis on which they were renting - secure long-term or short/variable term. There would still be rogue tenants (or heaven forbid rogue landlords), but no argument as to liability and consequences. A fixed term should be just that. No going periodic. Everyone (including the courts) would know the position.

Whiteskifreak Surrey

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13:52 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

The little snowlakes would do well in a system where everything is provided on a plate.
I suppose North Korea should be considered by them.
🤣🤣🤣

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