Tenants

As with landlords, the common, often overlapping themes, from tenant interviews were collected into broad categories which provide an overall picture of varied set of experiences.

Landlords

Our research explored why people become landlords, how they manage properties, and the challenges they face in Suffolk’s private rented sector. Read the key insights here.

Case Studies

Our research collected more detailed information on key themes which are illustrated with case studies.

Health and Housing Research

Safe Suffolk Renters was one of nine national Pathfinder projects funded by the UK government between April 2023 and March 2025. It aimed to improve standards in the private rented sector (PRS) by building relationships between tenants, landlords, and property managers, promoting understanding of responsibilities, and using enforcement where necessary. The University of Suffolk partnered with the initiative to research the lived experiences of tenants and landlords in Suffolk and explore the link between housing and health. The research project was established to:

Understand the lived experience of tenants and landlords in Suffolk
Find out what works for tenants, residents, and landlords in improving homes
Better understand the impacts on quality of life, and health and wellbeing of living in, or being a landlord of, a privately rented home

View all research within Tenant Themes and Landlord Themes.

Tenant Themes

Landlord Themes

Dimensions of Home

Beyond physical structure, housing affects identity, control, and emotional security. Feeling safe, being able to personalise a home, and having autonomy are vital for wellbeing. Housing insecurity—frequent moves, financial hardship, or loss of homeownership—can lead to stress, depression, and long-term dissatisfaction.

Vulnerable groups, including mothers and young children, face heightened risks when housing is unstable. Older renters and those with disabilities are a growing demographic in the PRS, yet their experiences remain under-researched.

Why Housing Matters for Health

Housing is a key determinant of health, influencing physical and mental wellbeing alongside genetics and healthcare^[1].

Poor housing conditions—such as damp, mould, and cold homes—are linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and even accelerated ageing^[2].

The NHS spends an estimated £1.4 billion annually treating conditions caused by poor housing^[3].

Research highlights four critical factors shaping housing-related health outcomes^[4]:

Location and neighbourhood environment
Home type, quality, and condition
Security and stability of tenure
Affordability within the housing market

Key takeaways from the Health and Housing Research

Poor housing conditions have significant health and social impacts
Suffolk’s Private Rented Sector is complex, reflecting national challenges with local nuances, including older housing stock and an ageing population
There are many examples of good landlord practice, but the sector is precarious, affected by changing personal circumstances, legislation and market conditions
Improving housing quality and security is essential for reducing health inequalities and supporting community wellbeing, requiring collaboration and fairness rather than prescriptive solutions
Accessible, empathetic advice and coordinated support systems are vital for both tenants and landlords

Case Studies

Our research collected more detailed information on key themes which are illustrated with case studies.

The importance of identity to home and wellbeing

In her late 60s, one tenant has lived with her husband in their current cottage for five years, having previously rented the neighbouring property for two years from the same landlord.

From Homelessness to Stability

A family with three children were made homeless after being evicted from a caravan park, due to year-round residency restrictions they had not been made aware of.

Key research themes

What we learnt

The research highlights the complexity of Suffolk’s private rented sector, shaped by personal histories and the link between housing and wellbeing.

Next Steps

Collaboration between housing and health services as well as with landlords is essential to improving wellbeing and reducing harm.

The research process

The research aimed to: Understand the lived experience of tenants and landlords in Suffolk. Identify what works for improving homes. Explore impacts on quality of life, health, and wellbeing in the private rented sector.

What we learnt

The research highlights the complexity of Suffolk’s private rented sector, shaped by personal histories and the link between housing and wellbeing.

Next Steps

Collaboration between housing and health services as well as with landlords is essential to improving wellbeing and reducing harm.

The research process

Affordability

Tenants face varied affordability challenges, balancing rent with sacrifices, benefits reliance, arrears risks, and barriers to moving or homeownership despite budgeting efforts.

Approaches

Landlords vary in style—some manage everything themselves, others use agents. Many prefer long-term tenants and allow personalisation of homes. Renovations are common, though costly.

Future Plans

Landlords weigh future options based on financial returns, legislation, market pressures, personal impact, and long-term plans, with motivations ranging from profit to social purpose.

Housing Journeys

Private renting has many types of housing journey; frequent moves and insecurity persist. Life events can trigger downward or upward trajectories, shaping financial strain, wellbeing, and a search for stability.

Identity and home

A sense of home can help tenants thrive, and depends on personalisation, pets, gardens, community, and security; restrictions, instability, and stigma undermine identity and wellbeing.

Market Pressures

Landlords feel stigmatised and worry about new regulations, tax changes, and rising costs. While some support fair regulation, others fear it will drive landlords out of the market.

Motivations

Most landlords started with personal circumstances—inheritance, savings, or wanting to help family. A few were driven by social values, aiming to house people in need.

Policy needs

Landlords can feel stigmatised and believe recent legislation favours tenants. They emphasise collaborative approaches like education, peer support and initiatives such as Safe Suffolk Renters.

Property Characteristics

Tenants’ property choices reflect aesthetics, space needs, affordability, and changing circumstances, with challenges including overcrowding, poor conditions, limited choice, landlord restrictions, and accessibility for older or disabled renters.

Property Condition

Tenants report mixed satisfaction; many face damp, mould, cold homes, and disrepair, causing health and mental strain, with limited landlord accountability.

Relationships – Landlords

Landlords can feel stigmatised and believe recent legislation favours tenants. They emphasise collaborative approaches like education, peer support and initiatives such as Safe Suffolk Renters.

Relationships – Tenants

Tenant–landlord relationships vary widely, influencing security, repairs, and wellbeing; issues include power imbalance, agent responsiveness, discrimination, and community support networks.

Security of Tenure

Tenants’ security of tenure varies; trust, pragmatism, and stability aid wellbeing, while landlord changes, Section 21 notices, and precarity fuel anxiety.

No photos of actual residents, landlords or agents are included. Photos of places and people are a mix of stock photos and images from the Centre for Ageing Better excellent resource of age-positive photos. Case study illustrations by Cris Seville.

Tenants

Landlords

Case Studies

Health and Housing Research

Tenant Themes

Landlord Themes

Dimensions of Home

Why Housing Matters for Health

Key takeaways from the Health and Housing Research

Case Studies

The importance of identity to home and wellbeing

From Homelessness to Stability

Key research themes

What we learnt

Next Steps

The research process

What we learnt

Next Steps

The research process

Affordability

Approaches

Future Plans

Housing Journeys

Identity and home

Market Pressures

Motivations

Policy needs

Property Characteristics

Property Condition

Relationships – Landlords

Relationships – Tenants

Security of Tenure

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