How do rising housing prices affect our health? It is a question that intrigued a group of five researchers in public health and economics at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. It’s easy to see why this question might arise in Vancouver where housing prices and rents have been going up and up and up1.
The research reported in the articles linked below analyzed 23 studies completed around the world and published during the period 2013 to 2022. Each one looked at the relationship between house prices and health outcomes. The 23 studies reported diverse health outcomes.
The research team reported that in the 23 studies there isn’t enough evidence to indicate a causal relationship between housing prices and health outcomes. The studies point to a host of other factors that might cloud whether the relationship is a function of rises in house prices or linked to something else.
For example, home ownership could be a factor. If you own a home, the rise in house price could contribute to your health because the rise in house price will accrue to you.
The researchers also point out that there are other established determinants of health, which could affect health outcomes and cannot be ruled out in the findings of the 23 studies. For example, evidence from other studies has established that community amenities (parks, health clinics, public transit) affect health outcomes for local residents. In the 23 studies, it could be that, as well as house prices, community amenities are a factor in differences in health outcomes.
Stephan Labbé is a writer for the publication Vancouver is Awesome. He reports on the 23 study research project in an article titled: Rising Housing Costs Boost Health Of Rich, Worsen Health Of Poor, Finds B.C. Study. This seems pretty definitive compared with the conclusion of the researchers, who wrote that, “there is insufficient evidence for a causal relationship.”
Labbé did a good bit of background work of his own for his piece in Vancouver is Awesome. He spoke at length with one of the study’s authors to tease out the homeowner/renter split. Labbé also talked with other academics who have studied housing and health conditions locally. Labbé’s headline gets backing from his sources, rather than from the research he’s writing about.
The report of the literature review is open access and published by BMC Public Health: The impact of housing prices on residents’ health: a systematic review
Labbé’s article appears in Vancouver is Awesome: Rising housing costs boost health of rich, worsen health of poor, finds B.C. study
Footnotes
- Vancouver is perennially among the most expensive places to live worldwide. This year it is ranked third. Read more at CNN: These cities are now so expensive they’re considered ‘impossibly unaffordable’
