Housing problems can take a serious toll on our mental health and can affect anyone from students living in rented accommodation to vulnerable people looking for permanent shelter and people living alone or in tense, untidy environments.
Yet, whether you’re living in a shared building, your own property or in temporary rental accommodation, the link between housing problems and poor mental health is often overlooked. Issues like unaffordable rents, persistent repairs, threat of eviction or homelessness and unresponsive landlords may lead to heightened stress and despair. It is important to recognise this connection and resolve housing issues before they worsen.
This article looks at housing problems you might encounter and some practical support and accommodation advice from charities, national organisations and online resources.
Housing issues that may harm your mental health
Housing instability and problems can severely impact mental health. With 1.1 million households in the UK on the social housing waiting list and overcrowding, evictions, rent arrears and homelessness on the rise, it’s fair to say that many of you might have some kind of housing concern if you haven’t had one already. For a myriad of different reasons, small repairs to huge housing issues can all have a detrimental effect on your mental health or make existing symptoms of stress worse. This can be the case if you are coping with challenges, such as:
- managing your housing repairs
- struggling financially with rent, mortgage and mounting bills
- feeling unable to communicate with landlords, housemates and authorities.
The ongoing cost of living crisis and high rents have made it tougher for people to find the funds to pay for essential repairs that can commonly occur in residential buildings. These can vary from a hefty sum needed to replace a broken boiler to stumping up the cash to settle a seemingly smaller issue like a broken window, blocked gutter or cracked pipe.
Unhealthy housing conditions, like dirt, damp or a lack of cooking facilities can also damage your mental health. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone and help is on hand from the UK Government and a multitude of charities. If you need help with repairs or if you need additional support with your mental health from being overwhelmed with your housing situation.
Colder months that exacerbate housing issues
The winter months are notorious for housing issues and following overspending of the festive period, a long January and the remaining cost of living squeeze, the last thing you need is to lose the heating or your hot water supply.
Cold spells can lead to a rise in issues related to property disrepair, damp, mould so contact your landlord first. You might want to determine the underlying reason that your property suffers from condensation or harmful mould and find out whether you have any recourse for withholding rental payments. You should also be aware that your local council’s environmental health department will offer support if you have major health concerns about a healthing issue. This is particularly valid if your landlord is unresponsive as councils possess legal powers to compel them to appropriately maintain rental properties including student accommodation.
Therefore, knowing how to report a repair job – especially if it’s an emergency and time critical – can lessen your additional stress. If it is an emergency repair, try and reach out for ways to resolve any of your housing concerns before they spiral out of control. Housing and mental health have a cyclical relationship. Mental health problems can make maintaining housing tremendously hard. Likewise, housing issues like instability, poor conditions, terrible weather that leads to broken fences, windows, draughts or emergency plumbing or heating repairs can worsen your mental health.
This downward term might well be coupled with the financial pressures of having to fork out for repairs and keep on top of maintenance issues early on in the year; with the continuous onslaught of bad weather, housing problems might seem neverending for now, but there is always a light at the end of a broken pipe.
Creating a healthier home environment
If you are working hard, calling in tradespeople and seeking advice and practical help to resolve any internal or external housing issues, it can benefit your mental health if you focus on your immediate home’s interiors. If you make the areas in your property that you love and are free of issues extra cosy and welcoming, then these living spaces can mentally lift your mood. You might feel that, forex simple, being extra organised, keeping your living spaces clean or rejuvenating your interiors with some stylish new lights, lamps, cushions and blankets, that you’ll regain some joy in your house. This sense of control and optimism can do wonders to counteract any feeling of uncertainty and despair that problematic issues can create.
Your ultimate objective is for you to regain a sense of security and comfort in addition to feeling calm and settled. Some of you may feel tension in housemate/family relationships within a home situation which can increase anger and stress or you’re sad because you’ve moved too much in a short time. In addition, overcrowded housing can cause stress, anxiety, sleep disruption and depression while noisy, uncomfortable living situations might also be negatively affecting your mental health and self-esteem.
Prioritising your mental health and accessing help
There are various initiatives and charities who will put you in touch with support groups if you are facing an eviction. If you are struggling with a potential eviction or homelessness, promptly contact your local council’s housing department. They can explain emergency accommodation options, temporary housing and guide you to social housing options and explain how to stop your home from being repossessed. Meanwhile, charities like Shelter also provide critical housing advice and advocacy for those facing homelessness
If you have got a housing crisis or need support for any type of housing problem, whatever your age or wherever you live in the UK, there are plenty of resources and help to look for. Organisations like the Citizens Advice will assist tenants in asserting their rights while charities like Turn2Us offer housing benefit calculators and emergency grant details to help with housing costs. These organisations might offer you discretionary help with finances and can signpost you to your Citizens Advice if you are facing eviction.
Housing troubles, like personal issues, can be isolating and tricky to overcome at times, leaving you feeling anxious or out of your depth. Search for the right people, organisations and trades bodies who will offer practical guidance. Remember, while you might not have encompassed specific housing problems before, they might be more common than you think. Everyone has the right to live somewhere comfortable, safe and free from persistent problems and, before long, you’ll be passing your maintenance tips on to your friends, colleagues and family.
