The health of older New Zealanders in relation to housing tenure: analysis of pooled data from three consecutive, annual New Zealand Health Surveys.

OBJECTIVE: To explore relationships between the housing tenure of older New Zealanders and their health-related behaviours, and physical and mental health.

METHODS: Pooled data were analysed for 15,626 older adults (aged 55+) from three consecutive, annual, nationally representative New Zealand Health Surveys to compare owner-occupiers, private renters and public renters.

RESULTS: Most in the sample were owner-occupiers (83.2%), with 12.4% private renters and 4.5% public renters. A higher proportion of renters aged 75+ were female. Māori and Pacific people were more likely to be renters. Renters were more likely to be living alone, on lower annual incomes. Overall measures of physical and mental health showed a health gradient, with public renters in the poorest health and owner-occupiers in the best health.

CONCLUSIONS: Rental tenure is associated with poorer health. Implications for public health: Older renters tend to be economically disadvantaged and in poorer health than owner-occupiers. Over time, the proportion of older renters has been increasing. This will have implications for policy and for services in meeting the diverse care and support needs of older people. Higher rates of renting among Māori and Pacific people and older females means that these groups are particularly vulnerable to any negative impact of renting on health.