Renting rather than owning homes may age you faster, new study suggests

Living in a rented home, rather than owning one, could have a significant impact on biological aging, nearly twice that of being unemployed versus having paid employment, according to the findings of a recent study. Numerous factors related to housing, including issues like cold, mold, overcrowding, injury hazards, stress, and stigma, are known to influence physical and mental health. However, the precise mechanisms through which these factors affect our biology remain a subject of investigation.

To delve deeper into this issue, researchers combined epigenetic information, social survey data, and markers of biological aging—measured through DNA methylation in blood samples. The study drew on data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) and survey responses from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS).

The researchers examined various housing-related elements, including tenure, building type, government support for renters, presence of central heating (as a proxy for warmth), and location in urban or rural areas. They also considered psychosocial factors such as housing costs, payment arrears, overcrowding, and moving expectations.

The results revealed that residing in a privately rented home was linked to accelerated biological aging. Strikingly, the impact of renting in the private sector, as opposed to outright homeownership (without a mortgage), was nearly twice as significant as being unemployed compared to being employed. It was also 50% greater than the impact of former smoking versus never smoking.

Reference: BMJ, Journal of Epidemiology, DOI: 10.1136/jech-2023-220523