Australian renters twice as likely as homeowners to report worsening mental health

Renters are copping a brutal mental health hit from Australia’s housing crisis, with new figures revealing they’re more than twice as likely as homeowners to say their living situation is harming their wellbeing. A national survey has exposed the emotional toll of the property divide, showing the battle over housing isn’t just about soaring prices, impossible deposits and rent hikes — it’s also about stress, anxiety and whether Australians feel secure under their own roof. 66 per cent of renters said their housing situation had negatively affected their mental wellbeing. Picture: iStock Comparison platform OurTop10 surveyed 1018 Australians and found 66 per cent of renters said their housing situation had negatively affected their mental wellbeing. That compared with just 27 per cent of homeowners. In a telling sign of the security many attach to homeownership, 73 per cent of homeowners said owning had improved their mental wellbeing, even with mortgage repayments taken into account. The gap blew out even further when respondents were asked about the long term. A striking 84 per cent of homeowners said owning a home would help them live a longer, healthier life, while just 30 per c...