Impact of selective licensing schemes for private rental housing on mental health and social outcomes in Greater London, England: a natural experiment study



Petersen, Jakob, Alexiou, Alexandros ORCID: 0000-0003-3533-3238, Brewerton, David, Cornelsen, Laura, Courtin, Emilie, Cummins, Steven, Marks, Dalya, Seguin, Maureen, Stewart, Jill, Thompson, Kevin
et al (show 1 more authors) (2022) Impact of selective licensing schemes for private rental housing on mental health and social outcomes in Greater London, England: a natural experiment study. BMJ OPEN, 12 (12). e065747-.

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Abstract

<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess primary impact of selective Licensing (SL), an area-based intervention in the private rented housing market, on individual self-reported anxiety and neighbourhood mental health (MHI-Mental Healthcare Index) and secondary impacts on antisocial behaviour (ASB), population turnover and self-reported well-being.<h4>Design</h4>Difference-in-difference (DiD) was used to evaluate effects of SL schemes initiated 2012-2018. 921 intervention areas (lower super output areas) were matched 3:1 using propensity scores derived from sociodemographic and housing variables (N=3.684 including controls). Average treatment effect on treated (ATT) was calculated for multiple time period DiD in area-level analyses. Canonical DiD was used for individual-level analysis by year of treatment initiation while adjusting for age, sex, native birth and occupational class.<h4>Setting</h4>Intervention neighbourhoods and control areas in Greater London, UK, 2011-2019.<h4>Participants</h4>We sampled 4474 respondents renting privately in intervention areas (N=17 347 including controls) in Annual Population Survey and obtained area-level MHI population data.<h4>Interventions</h4>Private landlords in SL areas must obtain a licence from the local authority, allow inspection and maintain minimum housing standards.<h4>Results</h4>ATT after 5 years was significantly lower for MHI (-7.5%, 95% CI -5.6% to -8.8%) than controls. Antidepressant treatment days per population reduced by -5.4% (95% CI -3.7% to -7.3), mental health benefit receipt by -9.6% (95% CI -14% to -5.5%) and proportion with depression by -12% (95% CI -7.7% to -16.3%). ASB reduced by -15% (95% CI -21% to -8.2%). Population turnover increased by 26.5% (95% CI 22.1% to 30.8%). Sensitivity analysis suggests overlap with effects of London 2012 Olympic regeneration. No clear patterns were observed for self-reported anxiety.<h4>Conclusions</h4>We found associations between SL and reductions in area-based mental healthcare outcomes and ASB, while population turnover increased. A national evaluation of SL is feasible and necessary.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: epidemiology, mental health, public health
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Jan 2023 12:21
Last Modified: 02 May 2023 07:15
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065747
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3166916