Exploring the well-being of renters during the COVID-19 pandemic

New research by ACHR director Emma Baker and friends Dr. David Oswald and Dr. Trivess Moore exploring the well-being of renters during the COVID-19 pandemic has been published open-access in International Journal of Housing Policy. The research draws on a survey of 15,000 renters, alongside ethnographic diaries kept by 20 renters over a four week period.

The results found that most renters had a reduction in their mental well-being; many had increased levels of worry, anxiety, loneliness and isolation, as a result of the pandemic. More than two thirds of renters attributed their housing to declines in their mental health. The qualitative diaries revealed themes that influenced the state of well-being including: housing uncertainty and precarity, the form and quality of the living environment, and the impact on relationships. This study highlighted the importance of offering opportunities for social engagements and relationships within multiple occupancy buildings, better access to green spaces, and functional homes for work and living, as well as sleep and security. The research demonstrates a need for greater consideration required for well-being in housing policy and support, especially since the home is being used as a public health intervention.

Read the full article here.