Decent homes are fundamental to health, wellbeing and financial security. This is especially true for older people living on a low income who are more vulnerable to the health impacts of a poor home. But older private renters are too often suffering in homes that are cold, mould-ridden or unsafe.
At Independent Age we carried out extensive research with both landlords and tenants. We wanted to better understand the impact a home can have on older tenants’ health and wellbeing, to understand the barriers to fixing poor-quality private rented homes, and how these barriers can be overcome.
In this briefing we explore how poor housing affects older private renters, and what the barriers to improvement are from the points of view of both renters and landlords. We also set out recommendations for what the Renters’ Rights Bill needs to deliver to create a fairer system that promotes healthier homes.