Private renting and mental health in Wales: An update from CIH Cymru
Catherine May, project manager of Tyfu Tai Cymru at the Chartered Institute of Housing, writes about private renting and mental health.
In February 2019, Tyfu Tai Cymru (Housing Growth Wales) along with Tai Pawb published our report detailing the experience of landlords and tenants in the private rented sector of supporting tenants with mental health problems.
We found:
- One in three support organisations feel there is ‘never’ enough mental health support for tenants renting privately
- 62 per cent of landlords have had, or currently have a tenant with a mental health problem
- almost half of private landlords felt they ‘never’ had enough support or information to support tenants living with mental health problems
- landlords would like to access more information and support
- early intervention is key to helping people maintain their tenancy
- there are suggestions that people with mental health problems sometimes face discrimination when trying to access private rented sector housing
Welsh Government provided an update in Spring 2022 which sets out the progress that has been made in relation to the recommendations we set out in our report, including impact of the pandemic.
Our central recommendation was for Welsh Government to provide comprehensive information for private rented sector landlords and letting agents regarding local and national mental health support.
Rent Smart Wales published a directory of support services that are provided by each local authority on 14th March 2022 to provide comprehensive information for private rented sector landlords and letting agents regarding local and national mental health support – Local Authority Housing Directory - Rent Smart Wales (gov.wales)
We also recommended that re-licencing through Rent Smart Wales should require all private sector landlords to complete a module on mental health to improve their knowledge of how to access support for tenants with mental health problems, In response, Rent Smart Wales worked with Tai Pawb to develop a Mental Health Awareness CPD Course, which has now been launched and information was sent out as part of the Rent Smart Wales Quarterly Newsletter January 2022.
In relation to the concern that people were losing their homes after experiencing a mental health crisis, we recommended that all local authorities should develop crisis/emergency housing related support services for people with mental health problems in the private rented sector to support tenants to stay in their own homes.
Housing officials worked with health officials to include this in the Together for Mental Health delivery plan that “local authorities and local health boards to develop best practice guidance on joint commissioning of tenure neutral support services to provide emergency support to allow people to stay in their own homes and avoid evictions.” While this was delayed because of the Covid 19 pandemic this has now been included as part of the review of new measures implemented because of the response to Covid-19 to ensure health services are learning from evaluation and best practice, working with local authorities and local health boards to develop joint working protocols, including the development of assertive outreach approaches, multiagency case conferences and urgent/crisis referral routes.
Recognising the need to develop and implement early interventions for tenants who are struggling with rent arrears and maintaining a tenancy in general, an “Early Alert” scheme was launched in September 2020 by Citizens Advice Cymru, with a scheme which provides free, confidential, and independent advice on rent payments, rent arrears, debt, housing, benefits, and income maximisation.
A key concern from our report was the need to address instances of discrimination against people with mental health problems trying to access and sustain private rented sector housing. We have been told that Welsh Government will be undertaking research on discrimination in the PRS throughout 2022 which will link into the Race Equality Action Plan for Wales.
We look forward to continuing our work on this important topic with our partners, Welsh Government, and the National Residential Landlords Association.
