Renting linked to accelerated ageing claims researchers

Renting linked to accelerated ageing claims researchers

0:01 AM, 12th October 2023, About 7 months ago 14

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Living in a private rented property is related to faster biological ageing, according to new research.

Findings by the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health reveal living in a rented home can make you age at double the rate of those who own their homes.

The health journal says the scrapping of Section 21 will help reverse the ‘ageing process.’

Faster biological ageing

The study reveals falling repeatedly into arrears and exposure to pollution are linked to faster biological ageing. The findings say the body’s tissues and cells might be ageing faster than you think, regardless of your actual age.

The University of Essex and University of Adelaide in Australia researchers recognize that different housing conditions, like cold environments, mould, overcrowding, stress, and social stigma, can impact physical and mental health, even though the exact ways these factors affect health are not fully understood.

The study concluded: “Our finding that tenure is associated with faster ageing at nearly half the rate of that associated with current smoking and twice that with obesity suggests that our results may have clinical significance.”

The study says housing policy changes can be a game changer and improve health.

“Policies to reduce the stress and uncertainty associated with private renting, such as ending no-fault evictions, limiting rent increases and improving conditions, may go some way to reducing the negative impacts.”

Huge opportunity to improve renters health

Responding to the study, Dan Wilson Craw, deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Our home is so important to our health. Uncertainty about how long we can live somewhere is stressful, while disrepair and damp conditions make us physically ill.

“Private renters, who face the threat of arbitrary eviction and live in the worst quality housing, are particularly vulnerable to poor health as a result.

“As more older people have no option but to rent, policymakers need to act urgently.”

Mr Craw added the Renters’ Reform Bill will help improve tenant’s health.

“The government has a huge opportunity to improve renters’ health by passing the Renters’ (Reform) Bill, which will stop landlords evicting tenants without providing a reason and make it easier to hold landlords accountable for the quality of their homes.”


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Comments

Freda Blogs

15:10 PM, 12th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by C-cider at 12/10/2023 - 14:27
…and pigs might fly!

Steve O'Dell

16:57 PM, 12th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Utter tosh, you may find correlation but this does not imply causation - just how poor is their science. Can someone get a copy of the research report, I would be happy to pull it apart.

Chris Rattew

20:36 PM, 12th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Studies such as this can be useful. However, people like Generation Rent use such correlation studies like a drunk uses a lamp-post - for support rather than illumination. A lot more needs to be done to consider the reasons for that. Given that the average renter is poorer and that poor people have poorer health, the result is not surprising. It would be useful to have the data to tease out all the reasons for this correlation so that landlords can do their best to mitigate some of them, although I suspect that few of them are within the landlords' control.

Rennie

15:34 PM, 20th October 2023, About 7 months ago

"Living in a private rented property is related to faster biological ageing, according to new research."

They are talking about the landlord surely!

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