Landlords’ reassurance vital for tenants
A NEW study from UK housing experts at Edge Hill University and partners has found that landlords play a significant role in tenants’ ability to feel ‘at home’.
The report, led by the University of Stirling and supported by Dr Tom Simcock and Julie Feather from Edge Hill University, has published seven vital things landlords and letting agents should do to support their tenants to make their rented property a home.
Funded by SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust, the findings, which include: investing in property quality, carrying out repairs quickly and well, not discriminating against potential renters who rely on benefits, being open to families with children and pets, offering longer tenancies with stable rents, negotiating with tenants about personalising the property, and being respectful and supportive, feature in a new guidance for the private rented sector.
Dr Tom Simcock, a Research Fellow in the Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit at Edge Hill, said: “In the current climate where we are all being encouraged to stay at home, it’s vital that tenants can feel safe and comfortable and this study highlights the role that private landlords have to play in supporting the well being of their tenants.”
Julie Feather, a Research Assistant at Edge Hill, said: “Scotland’s private rented sector continues to expand and with this growth we are noticing trends in behaviours, such as tenants choosing to remain in their rented properties for longer. Home goes beyond just the bricks and mortar that shelter us, it provides us with a sense of place and belonging and this is equally true for those in the Private Rented Sector.”
The Private Rented Sector in Scotland has grown significantly since the 2007 Global Financial Crisis and now houses one in seven households. The sector has also become increasingly diverse, with more low-income households and families with children renting privately, while tenants are also renting privately for longer periods.
Dr McKee, a Senior Lecturer in Housing and Social Policy at the University of Stirling, said: “We know the ability to feel ‘at home’ is crucial for tenants’ health and well being and where they feel ‘at home’, they are more likely to look after the property and stay for longer, which clearly benefits landlords and letting agents too.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the need for everyone to have not just a roof over their heads, but to live in a property that feels comfortable and not stressful. After reviewing the research evidence, we produced a guide outlining the seven most important things that landlords should think about to help tenants feel at home and in turn, support their well being.”
The research project, ‘Making a House a Home in the Private Rented Sector’ was supported by Dr Steve Rolfe, also of the University of Stirling and Dr Jenny Hoolachan from Cardiff University. The team reviewed two decades worth of research over the 10 months of the study.