How does your home affect how you feel?

09 Jan 2025

Private tenants and landlords in Suffolk are being asked to share their experiences as part of research into the affect housing has on health and wellbeing.

Suffolk’s district and borough councils work to support landlords in improving living standards in the private rented sector for tenants. They have now partnered with the University of Suffolk for the Health and Housing Research Project.

The research team wants to hear from tenants about their home and how where they live affects how they feel. And it wants to hear Suffolk landlords about the measures they have put in place to support the health and wellbeing of their tenants plus the impact on their own health and wellbeing.

The findings will be anonymised and together with other evidence will help inform the district and borough councils, in their work to support landlords in improving living conditions for their tenants.

Robert Read, Research Associate at the University of Suffolk who is conducting the study said: “The private rented sector increasingly provides housing to people of all ages and from all backgrounds and our research so far has revealed a wide range of experiences. We are keen to hear from tenants and landlords across all parts of Suffolk so that we can build a comprehensive picture of private renting in the county. Whatever your own experience has been, your input into the research would be extremely valuable and we would love to hear from you.”

West Suffolk Council recently adopted a new Housing strategy part of which aims to improve living conditions for residents.

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, West Suffolk Cabinet Member for Housing said: “A home should be a sanctuary, a place where people can relax and escape some of the pressures of life. 

“But we already know that poor living conditions including homes that aren’t kept up to a decent standard of repair, are leaving residents exposed to cold, damp and other hazards which are damaging to their health and wellbeing.

“This research aims to go beyond that to uncover some of the other issues tenants feel about the place they call home.

“It’s not just tenants though. We recognise there are many good landlords in Suffolk and through this research we hope to capture some of the good work they are already doing to best support the health and wellbeing of their tenants.”

Cllr David Beavan, East Suffolk Council Cabinet member of Housing, said: “The New Year will bring great change to the Private Rented Sector as Section 21 no-fault evictions are finally abolished and landlords are subject to new regulation on the decent home standard and rent controls. Many renters will now be free to complain about their lets without fear of eviction.

“We have led the successful Safer Suffolk Renters campaign as well as set up our own ethical letting company. We are now launching an innovative collaboration with the NHS in Lowestoft to target fuel poor tenants with respiratory conditions in poorly insulated homes.

“We welcome this research as we always want to hear from tenants but also want to support good landlords to navigate the new legislation.”

Councillor John Cook, Ipswich Borough Council, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Sport, said: "Everyone deserves a decent home to live in. Ipswich Borough Council is committed to improving housing standards and ensuring that homes are safe and comfortable for all residents. This important research will give us a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by tenants and landlords alike, and it will help us work together to create better homes across Suffolk."

The research is being conducted through interviews and anyone who is a private tenant or a landlord in Suffolk can take part by emailing r.read2@uos.ac.uk 

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