Unaffordable rent raises your risk of an early death, study warns

Unaffordable housing costs across the country could impact a person's risk of premature death, a new study suggests.

Americans who spent half their income on rent in the year 2000 were nine percent more likely to die in the next 20 years than those who spent just 30 percent of their income on rent.

The pressure to come up with rent money, which has become heavier over the years as inflation has risen to new heights along with the cost of living, often leaves people unable to finance their health care and food needs.

Researchers at Princeton University, using the U.S. Census Bureau, analyzed millions of records to track renters since 2000 to better understand how the burden of paying high rent and eviction affects mortality.

It has become more expensive to rent than ever in recent years, with housing costs rising by almost 30 per cent overall since the start of the Covid pandemic.

A study by Moody's Analytics found that seven metropolitan areas have average rental costs that are at least 30 percent of the average salary, increasing cost-of-living pressure for renters

Americans who spend between 30 and 50 percent of their money on rent end up spending 57 percent less on necessary health care, including preventive health care such as screenings, and 17 percent less on food, compared to households that can afford rent.

People who spent 70 percent of their income on rent were 12 percent more likely to die.

The expulsion had an even greater impact. The mere threat of deportation – even if that case did not result in an deportation judgment – ​​was associated with a 19 percent increase in the death rate.

Receiving an eviction notice was associated with a 40 percent increase in the risk of death.

Dr. Nick Graetz, lead author of the study, said: 'We were surprised by the magnitude of the relationship between costs and mortality risk.

'It is especially a big problem when we consider how many people are affected by rising rents. This is not a rare occurrence.”

The study did not take into account specific causes of death related to the burden of difficulty paying rent, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. But there is a litany of health problems that can arise as a result of chronic stress.

Dr. Gaetz added: “Eviction can jeopardize an individual's physical and mental health by exposing him or her to prolonged periods of intense housing hardship, including homelessness and acute stress.”

Stress-related health problems range from digestive, heart and skin problems to muscle tension, mental disorders and sleep disorders.

The authors of the study said: “The supply of affordable housing in the United States has declined over time. Our findings suggest that public policies designed to address that problem—such as rental vouchers, small-dollar mortgages, and expanding low-income housing incentives—can lead to significant improvements in public health.

'If tenants are not forced to choose between rent and their well-being, they will live longer and healthier lives.'

The problem seems to be getting worse. The researchers noted that among the poorest renters who spent 30 to 49 percent of their income on housing in 2000, 45 percent experienced an increase of 20 percentage points or more in their struggle to pay rent a decade later.

Compared to those whose rent burden did not change over that ten-year period, people who saw a 10 percentage point increase in their financial burden had an eight percent higher risk of death.

Dr. Graetz said, “In general, we live in a system that makes it very difficult to maintain our housing when we experience a problem. A sudden health problem in your family, a car accident or other unexpected problem can quickly lead to an eviction.

“It is especially important to act now: eviction filings are increasing in every city and state we track.”

Their findings were published in the journal Social Sciences and Medicine.