Landlords' attitudes towards age-friendly adaptations: Implications for the well-being of older private renters

Abstract

A large share of private rental housing in Flanders, Belgium, is unsuitable for older people who want to age in place, which can negatively affect their well-being. Since it is often unclear what changes tenants are allowed to make, this study examines landlords’ attitudes toward age-friendly housing adaptations and their impact on the tenant’s well-being through the self-determination theory. Using student-designed adaptations, exploratory interviews were conducted with five landlords. Our findings reveal landlords' negative attitudes frequently stem from the desire to protect their own well-being by avoiding potential hassle and property damage. However, this can negatively impact tenants’ feeling of autonomy and competence. Therefore, this research underscores that to design impactful, age-friendly adaptations, it's crucial to consider the well-being of both the tenant and the landlord. A focus on both may help create rental housing settings in which aging in place becomes a more realistic and sustainable option.