Risk factors for tenancy breakdown for mentally ill people

Abstract

People with mental health problems are at risk of tenancy breakdown. This study investigated the risk factors associated with a loss of tenancy. Focus groups of mental health service users (n=5), care staff (n=4) and housing workers (n=6) identified a set of 11 possible risk factors. Housing and resettlement records for 197 tenants with mental health problems were surveyed, of which 51 (26%) related to failed tenancies. Thirty of the housing managers were interviewed by researchers and 47 of the tenants were interviewed by other researchers who had themselves previously used mental health services. Four risk factors were identified: lack of support following a crisis; regular contact with services; lapse of housing benefit following hospital admission; and having no support other than the specialist resettlement team (who withdraw within 6 months of being accommodated). The implications of these risk factors are discussed.