New research has found that poor-quality rented homes and the stress of renting is linked to more rapid biological ageing, adding an extra two and half weeks to a renter’s biological age each year. 

Researchers discovered that privately renting is even more damaging to cells than being a former smoker or unemployed.

Experts believe that the phenomenon is being driven by the health effects of low-quality housing. Private renters generally live in worse conditions than owner-occupiers or people who live in social housing, and are more likely to face problems such as cold, damp and disrepair. In 2021, the English Housing Survey estimated that 23 per cent of private rented homes did not meet the Decent Homes Standard, compared with 13 per cent of owner-occupied homes and 10 per cent of social housing.

In addition, private renters largely experience higher levels of stress, mainly stemming from the fear of not being able to pay rent and the looming threat of eviction.

The new study, conducted by academics at the University of Essex and the University of Adelaide, looked at blood samples taken from 1,420 participants and asked them about their housing situation over the past decade.

The researchers were able to track the process of ‘DNA methylation’ (a marker of DNA changes) in the participants, and found that living in a rented home is linked to faster biological ageing. Biological ageing relates to the decline in functioning of the body’s tissues and cells, irrespective of a person’s actual, chronological age. 

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.”

Thankfully, the process of biological ageing can be reversed. “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.”

This isn’t the first time renting has been shown to have a negative impact on health. In November 2022, a study was published that suggested that private renters are twice as likely as homeowners to suffer from anxiety, while research published by Shelter in 2021 found that 1 in 5 renters had their health detrimentally impacted by their home.

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