BRITAIN’S private rental sector is sparking a nationwide mental health crisis, a shocking new survey revealed today.
According to the research conducted by London Renters Union (LRU), one in three renters feel that private renting is negatively affecting their mental health.
Three in five renters say they feel depressed when thinking about paying their rent, while 69 per cent said it fills them with anxiety.
The crisis comes at a time when rents are at record highs.
Data released by rental website Rightmove last month found that the average London rent had reached a new high of £2,631.
The average advertised rent outside London rose to a record £1,280 — 9.2 per cent higher than a year ago.
LRU member Bekah Hesse-Clark said: “I’ve never managed to stay longer than 18 months in a single home because the landlord has always raised the rent or there’s been a problem with the property.
“I’ve never had the chance to get to know my neighbours properly and I’m sick of the endless house-hunting on Zoopla.
“Moving house can cost upwards of £1,000 and the emotional impact of doing this process is immense.
“Over the years, it’s interfered with my relationships, work, and my general wellbeing.
“I feel like I’m trapped in a cycle of insecurity and the government is doing nothing to stop it.”
More than two-thirds of mortgage-free landlords raised their rents in the last year despite being unaffected by interest rate rises, according to research by homeless charity Shelter.
Despite rising interest rates preventing many from getting on the property ladder, research from The Mortgage Lender found that 25 per cent of buy-to-let landlords have added another property in the past 12 months to their portfolio, and a further 27 per cent added multiple properties.
A spokesperson for the LRU said: “Insecurity from rising rents and the threat of unfair eviction hangs heavy over the heads of all renters, especially those living in areas like London.
“A housing system run primarily for private profit is failing to meet our basic needs.
“We need the government to follow the lead of cities across Europe and act now to control rising rents to take the pressure off millions of struggling renters.”
