AbstractThis paper investigates the impact on area life tables of the specification of unobserved frailty. Frailty specification may affect both the regression effects of area and individual level covariates, and lead to changes in the value of summary mortality parameters, such as life expectancy. The paper also investigates how frailty affects life tables for specific causes of death, especially lung cancer and heart disease. Implications for choice between different model specifications, both in terms of age dependence and frailty, are discussed. The focus is on registered deaths recorded by age, birthplace and by small area within a borough of Greater London.