The role of landlords in shaping housing responses to climate change and health equity

Housing plays a central role in the climate crisis, as shelter is a critical determinant of health, safety, and community resilience in the context of the changing climate. The interests of property owners have taken priority with regard to emerging property laws around climate change. This focus on property owners typically protects landlords and real estate investors, those who own land and rent out their properties, in the face of impending climate disasters. However, current policies are failing both sides of the rental relationship. While only property owners are eligible for climate-related protections and incentives, many of these measures are costly, inaccessible, or are accompanied by unrealistic expectations. This leaves landlords financially strained and renters, who make up a larger and often more equity-deserving portion of the population, neglected and consequently at risk. Renters, many of whom are precariously housed, remain absent from climate protection policies and disaster response planning, despite being among those most at risk. The state’s prioritization of property ownership and the protection of property wealth is ultimately harmful to the health and wellbeing of the population, as it reinforces current inequities amongst climate change protection policies.