Doctors usually point to a list of to-dos that can keep you healthy and young. Exercise. Eat right. Don’t smoke. Relax.

One day you might hear your family physician offer one additional piece of advice: buy a house.

Renting a home can accelerate aging more than owning one. That’s according to British and Australian researchers. In fact, they say, renting’s impact on biological age appears worse than smoking.

Aging isn’t as simple as counting birthdays. The cumulative damage done to our cells means some of us age faster than others, opening the door to age-related disorders.

Stress is recognized as a major cause of biological aging. And the scientists in this study, which controlled for socioeconomic status, say renters face the kind of pressures that can shorten a lifespan. These include ever-increasing rents, evictions and the insecurity endemic to renting.

The study found the impact on biological aging even surpasses smoking.

Researchers used data from more than 1,400 adults in Great Britain that included measurement of an aging marker found in blood. They note that the findings would likely be applicable to other nations.

Owning a home isn’t a free pass to longevity and comes with its own stresses. Can you say, “Leaky-roof replacement?” Santa Claus doesn’t foot that bill. The homeowner does. And that speeds aging, too, though at a slower pace.

Of course, lots of things can reduce stress. That includes dancing, according to an unrelated study.

So, buy a house and bust a jig in your new living room. But don’t stay up too late. Lack of sleep can also speed that inner clock.