Four in five UK tenants say renting affects their general wellbeing, according to new research published during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Housing Hand's Understanding Renters in 2026 report, based on a survey of around 1,700 current renters across the UK, finds that the connection between renting and wellbeing is both widespread and deeply felt.
With 19% of all UK households living in the private rented sector, the quality of rental experiences carries considerable weight for the country's overall mental health.
How renters feel right now
When asked about their current feelings toward renting, 69% of tenants reported negative sentiments. The most common emotions were feeling overwhelmed (23%), uncertain (18%) and anxious (16%), with smaller proportions saying they felt scared (7%) or out of their depth (5%).
By contrast, just 31% reported positive feelings, including feeling confident (10%), in control (7%), knowledgeable (6%) and happy (6%).
Affordability sits at the heart of renters' concerns, with 66% worried about being able to afford the property they want. Securing a property was also a source of anxiety for 56% of respondents, while 46% admitted they wouldn't know what to do if they were unable to pay their rent.
"Our latest Understanding Renters report shows the huge impact that renting has on people's wellbeing," said Graham Hayward, managing director of Housing Hand.
"This represents a key opportunity, as getting renting right could have enormous wellbeing benefits. It highlights the value of focusing not just on the quality of private rental accommodation but also the process of securing a home. Housing Hand's experience has shown that making the rental experience easy to navigate and understand can be a game-changer in how renters feel."
Support at an individual level
At a national level, the Renters' Rights Act aims to make the private rental system more stable, safer and easier to understand. Housing Hand is meanwhile working to address renting and wellbeing concerns at an individual level through a range of services designed to make the rental process fairer and simpler.
As the UK's leading rent guarantor service, the company works with renters, parents, guardians, landlords and accommodation providers. Alongside its core guarantor offering, it provides free 24/7 access to GP and mental health support for all customers throughout their tenancy, via a partnership with HealthHero in association with Gallagher UK.
The service, launched following the firm's 2025 Understanding Renters survey, covers everything from out-of-hours GP consultations to confidential mental health support and legal or financial guidance.
"Renting somewhere new means adjusting to new surroundings and new routines, which can be both exciting and stressful," Hayward added. "By providing free, professional health and wellbeing services to all of our guarantor customers, we aim to provide renters with greater peace of mind."
