“I just want to be able to be secure”: experiences of single mid-life women in private rental housing in Australia

Renting a privately owned home in Australia is becoming more common;however, tenants often experience short-term leases, high rent and housing stress, and as a consequence unstable housing. Mid-life is a time when women, in particular, experience significant social change, and many rent in the private rental sector. Yet little is known about the experiences of single mid-life women living in private rental accommodation. This study draws on face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 14 single mid-life (40-65 years)women living in private rental housing in Australia to gain insights into their experiences and the potential housing implications for older age. Applying a Bourdieusian analysis alongside markers of precarity, we identified three descriptions of private rental housing experiences, as well as three social structures that impacted the collective experiences of the women. We make policy recommendations aimed at addressing housing precarity broadly, and specifically for women in mid-life.