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. Her housing journey has encompassed employment-related accommodation, home ownership – lost due to financial difficulties relating to her former husband, and private renting. The experience she has had with landlords has been very mixed.
In contrast, the relationship with her current landlord has helped to the make the property a home.
The relationship is built on mutual respect and informal negotiation.
The cottage is a Grade II listed rural property with limited insulation and is difficult to heat. It is very isolated, located in a hamlet with no bus service and there are steps down to the cottage which is on two floors. The couple have suffered with respiratory conditions and have increasingly serious mobility concerns. Despite this, the cottage is most certainly considered to be a home.
They have made their own, limited adaptations, including to get around the difficulties posed by the toilet being on the ground floor.
More major adaptations may be unfeasible, for example, it is unlikely that a stairlift would be an option because of the design of the staircase.
The tenant is conscious that the property characteristics mean they may have to contemplate moving at some point. However, the rural setting makes a positive contribution to her mental and physical health.
The thought of having to move, even to a nearby market town, presents a threat to her identity and the feeling of wellbeing that comes from her home and its setting. Though at times maintaining the garden can be a struggle, being able to spend time in it can have other, significant benefits.
