Study: Renters with Children More Likely to Report Asthma Issues than Homeowners

A recent study from the Urban Institute entitled, “The Relationship between Housing and Asthma among School-Age Children,” used data from the 2015 American Housing Survey (AHS) to explore connections between housing and childhood asthma. The study found that that renters with children are more likely than homeowners with children to report asthma triggers, like exposure to smoke, mold, leaks, and roaches or rodents, in their homes and to have at least one child with asthma.  

According to the study, households with at least one asthmatic child were more likely to report the presence of asthma triggers in their homes than households without an asthmatic child. Even when controlling for householder demographics, the age of housing, and household income, the presence of smoke, mold, or leaks was correlated with childhood asthma.

Renters were more likely than homeowners to reside in homes with at least one asthma trigger and to have a child with asthma. Compared to homeowners, renter households with children were twice as likely to report exposure to smoke or have evidence of cockroaches or rodents. Renters receiving housing assistance were also more likely than other low-income renters to live in units with asthma triggers and have a child with asthma. Among just renters, the presence of asthma triggers was not statistically correlated with childhood asthma, but the sample of renters was potentially too small to detect a significant correlation.