Now that we’re emerging from the Covid-19 crisis, we can reflect on what this period of uncertainty has taught us. One of the things the past 18 months has highlighted is the financial vulnerabilities of certain groups within our society.
In March 2020, the Government announced that homeowners would be able to apply for up to three months mortgage holiday – this was later extended to up to six months1.
However, tenants in the UK who were struggling to make rent payments had to rely on their landlord firstly applying for a mortgage holiday, and then passing the relief onto them. It wasn’t until five months into the pandemic, in August 20202, that the Government legislation was passed protecting tenants from forced eviction for six months if they fell into rent arrears due to the crisis.
A lack of signposting to advice
Typically, the reason most people will initially seek out and speak to an adviser is to arrange a mortgage, and the protection conversation naturally follows on from this. However, as tenants aren’t seeking this type of professional advice, they’re often unaware of their protection needs – leaving them in a vulnerable position.
A report by actuarial firm Hymans Robertson, showed that only 8% of tenants were informed about any protection products as part of the lettings process, with only 2% informed about income protection.3
Changes in the rental market
The same report also showed that there’s a growing rental market in the UK. Since 2007 the number of households privately renting has increased by 61%. And this trend is expected to continue.3 For many people, renting is no longer seen as a stepping-stone to buying their first home. It’s a lifestyle choice, especially in large cities, such as London, where buying is just not seen as a viable option, even for older professionals. In fact, Hymans Robertson found that the average renter has been renting for over 10 years, and the number of middle-aged renters doubled between 2007 and 2017. Furthermore, 50% of all children born in 2018, were born into rented accommodation3.
Plus, tenants tend to spend a higher proportion of their salary on housing costs. For example, in London rent accounts for, on average, 65% of a tenant’s income – 20% more than a homeowner in London spends on a mortgage. With rent costs higher than mortgage costs in many areas in the UK, it may also be more difficult for renters to save enough to cover emergencies.3
So, can we, as an industry, afford to let this growing group of tenants remain under-protected and more at risk of losing their home if they can’t pay their rent and essential bills if they’re too ill to work due to illness and injury?
How we can help
We’re taking steps to address this issue by working to encourage advisers and lettings agents to think about the protection needs of tenants and to have the protection conversation during the lettings process. We’re also working in partnership with the Income Protection Task Force and, as members, we’re supporting their awareness week, which is running now (20-24 September).
In addition, we’ve improved our overall protection offering for renters. Our Cover Increase Options make our Life Cover, Critical Illness Cover and Income Protection more flexible and suitable for tenants. And we have new resources to encourage lettings agents to refer tenants who are interested in protection, and to help you build relationships with lettings agents and approach these tenants.
Visit our website or speak to your usual Royal London contact to find out how we can help support your protection conversations with this potential client base.
—— Sources:
1Mortgage holidays to continue for homeowners affected by Coronavirus – Gov.UK (www.gov.uk) – accessed September 2021.
2Guidance for landlords and tenants – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – accessed September 2021.
3 Protecting Generation Rent, Hymans Robertson, September 2019. Accessed August 2021.
