Researchers in the UK and Australia have found renting a home could make you age faster than owning it.
The research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health has found a stark difference between the biological aging of owner-occupants and tenants.
In fact, the findings suggest the impact of renting, as opposed to owner occupancy, is nearly double that of being out of work versus having paid employment. It was also 50 percent greater than having been a former smoker as opposed to never having smoked.
Biological ageing was defined as cultivated damage to the body's tissues and cells, irrespective of actual aging.
Researchers used blood samples of people involved in a UK household study and compared the biological age scores with their housing situations. Because this study is observational, it can't prove renting is the cause of faster biological ageing.
"When historical housing circumstances were added to the mix, repeated housing arrears, and exposure to pollution/environmental problems were also associated with faster biological ageing," the study said.
"Living in social housing, however, with its lower cost and greater security of tenure, was no different than outright ownership in terms of its association with biological ageing once additional housing variables were included."
However, it isn't all bad news for tenants. Fortunately, the researchers said these effects are reversable, highlighting the significant potential for housing policy changes to improve health.
"Policies to reduce the stress and uncertainty associated with private renting… limiting rent increases, and improving conditions may go some way to reducing the negative impacts of private renting," the researchers said.
In New Zealand, the Green Party has been campaigning on its Pledge to Renters policy which includes limiting how much landlords can increase rent and establishing a Rental Warrant of Fitness.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has said his party won't consider rent controls. Meanwhile, the National Party said if elected it would reverse Labour's removal of no-cause terminations and the provisions which see fixed-term tenancies roll into periodic tenancies in most cases.
