TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, an organisation that delivers counselling services for housing association customers, has made the call to try and tackle the growing mental health issues that are present in the housing association sector.

Mental health services like counselling are increasingly becoming essential services for associations to provide. Recent studies have shown that housing is an essential determinant of good mental health, and that approximately a third of people that are renting from a housing association or a local authority experience some form of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or stress compared to one in four of those that rent and just 20% of those that own their own home.

In addition, other intersecting challenges such as poverty and the increased cost of living are also contributing to mental health issues, while people feel less connected to their communities and families since the Covid pandemic, resulting in customers requiring more support around their emotional wellbeing.

Counselling services have been proven to help bridge this gap. Housing associations have a duty of care to their customers, and providing services that can help boost their mental health helps to ensure they are better tenants, with more consistent rent payment times, longer tenancy periods and a better approach to house and home maintenance, as well as giving individuals an outlet to manage their emotions and creating a more positive environment for the community.

Services like counselling will also be crucial for housing associations going forward, as local authorities add new rules and regulations into their management, such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s new Good Landlord Charter. 

The charter, which is intended to be the first of its kind, is an ambitious new voluntary standard for landlord excellence. Its aim is to support landlords to improve practice regardless of whether they are in the private or social rented sector, mainstream or specialist housing, with outside services like counselling provisions being a great way to demonstrate good practices.

Emily Williams, development director for TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, said: “Many housing association customers find themselves facing a myriad of challenges which create extreme pressure on their mental health.

“For many, getting out of bed in the morning or leaving the house will be major achievements. In cases like these, tasks such as maintaining the property or paying rent on time can slip down the priority list.

“The benefit of providing counselling services is two-fold; of course, it helps the customers greatly with its ease of access that avoids the huge waiting lists of the NHS, but it also makes vital contributions to housing associations as it helps with tenancy sustainability, and customer happiness.

“It’s tough right now for housing associations to make the difficult decisions about how to prioritise their increasingly tight budgets. By investing into counselling services, you’re getting a two-for-one return, creating a better environment for your customers and also creating a more cost-effective approach to tenancy management.

“We’re already seeing a growing demand for counselling as more and more housing associations see the benefits that are inherent to providing these services. It’s definitely a theme that we see continuing across 2025, and it’s a great, positive step toward helping housing association customers to feel happy and safe in their homes and create more harmonious and sustainable neighbourhoods and environments for people across the UK.”