The English Housing Survey has been published this morning (8/7/22)

The full survey can be seen here, and the headlines are:-

Four fifths (80%) of private renters are satisfied with their current accommodation

• The private rented sector is home to just over 4.4 million households, nearlyone fifth of the households in England.
  • The private rented sector accounts for 19% of households in England, larger than the social rented sector at 17%, but smaller than owner occupation,
    which accounts for 65% of households.
• The majority of private renters are satisfied with their current accommodation and tenure
  • Four fifths (80%) of private renters are satisfied with their current accommodation – this is more than for social renters (75%) but less than owner occupiers (94%).
  • Most private renters (63%) said they were satisfied with their tenure, though this was less than the 79% of social renters who said they were satisfied and the 98% of owners.
• Nearly one fifth of private renters had considered making a complaint to their landlord or letting agency.  More than three quarters ended up making a complaint.  A small proportion did not because they were worried that the landlord would retaliate and/or not renew their tenancy.
  • Approximately 772,000 private rented households, or 17% of private renters, had considered making a complaint to their landlord or letting agency. Overall, more than three quarters (77%) did make a complaint to their landlord or letting agency, whereas 23% did not
  • the most common reasons for not making a complaint were concern over retaliation by the landlord (15%), concern that tenancies wouldn’t be renewed (14%) and the time and hassle it takes to complain (13%).
• On average, private renters spend 31% of their income on their rent. Private renters in receipt of housing support spend around 40% of their income on rent
  • In 2020-21, on average, private renters spent 31% of their income (including housing support) on rent. This figure was higher than for mortgagors (18%) and for social renters (27%).
  • This proportion was higher for private renters in receipt of housing support who, on average, spent 41% of their household income on rent. When housing support was excluded, the proportion increased to 64% of their This is higher than the proportion spent by social renters in receipt of housing support (30%, respectively 45% when the housing support is excluded).

nearly three fifths had been in the PRS for more than 4 years

• On average, private renters had lived in their current accommodation for just over 4 years – this was a shorter period of time than for owner occupiers and social renters. In terms of time spent in the sector, nearly three fifths had been in the PRS for more than 4 years.
  • On average, private renters had lived in their current accommodation for 4.2  years. This was less than for social renters (10.8 years) and for owner occupiers (16.0 years).
  • More than two fifths (44%) of private renters had been in the sector for 4 years or less, 23% spent 5-10 years, and 34% spent more than 10 years in the sector.
• Nearly three quarters of private renters said their last tenancy ended because they wanted to move. Fewer than a tenth said their landlord or agent asked them to leave.
  • The majority (73%) of private renters left their last tenancy because theywanted to move, and 10% said their tenancy ended because it was only for afixed period. Fewer than one tenth (6%) said they left their last tenancybecause their landlord or agent asked them to leave.
  • Of those who were evicted, the main reasons were because the landlord wanted to use or sell the property (63%) or other reasons (33%).
• A small proportion of private renters report experiencing homelessness in the
  A similarly small proportion said, in the last 12 months, they had someone living with them who would otherwise be homeless.
  • 4% of private renters, or 186,000 households reported experiencinghomelessness in the past. This was higher than for owner occupiers (1%) butlower than for social renters (10%).
  • 3% of private renters said that, in the past 12 months, they had someoneliving with them who would otherwise have been homeless. This is similar for owner occupiers (2%) and social renters (3%).

Nearly two thirds of private renters expect to buy a home in the future

• Nearly two thirds of private renters expect to buy a home in the future. This is higher than the quarter of social renters who expect to buy. Of those private renters who do not expect to buy, more than half cite affordability as the reason.
  • Nearly two thirds (61%) of private renters say they expect to buy a home at some point in the future. This is higher than for social renters (25%).
  • Of those who do not expect to buy, 52% say they would be unable to afford it. Less common reasons included liking where they currently lived (9%), not having a secure job (8%), and preferring the flexibility of renting and not wanting the commitment (both at 6%).
• The private rented sector remains the tenure where dwellings are most likely to fail the Decent Homes Standard, whereas the social rented sector has the lowest proportion of non-decent homes. The proportion of non-decent homes varies by region, with Yorkshire and the Humber having the highest proportion.
  • Approximately 970,000 dwellings in the private rented sector (23% of the stock) would likely not meet the Decent Homes Standard. This proportion was lower in owner occupation (14%) and the social rented sector (11%).
  • The proportion of non-decent private rented dwellings varies by region, with the lowest proportion (12%, or 75,000 homes) in the South East and the highest proportion (38% or 160,000 homes) in Yorkshire and the Humber.
• Private rented dwellings where the household received housing support, and those where the Household Reference Person (HRP) was 65 years or older were more likely to fail the Decent Homes Standard
  • More than a quarter (27%) households in receipt of housing support were living in a non-decent home, compared to 21% of households not in receipt of housing support
  • The likelihood of living in a non-decent private rented home also varies by age, with 30% of households with a HRP aged 65 or older living in non-decent homes, compared to 19% of those with a HRP aged between 30 and 44
• The pattern of prevalence of Category 1 hazards is similar to that of non-decent homes, with higher proportions found for households in receipt of housing support, and where the HRP was aged 65 or older.
  • In 2020, 13% of private rented dwellings had a Category 1 hazard, comparedto 9% in the owner occupied sector and 5% in the social rented sector.
  • Nearly one fifth (18%) of homes where someone in the household was inreceipt of housing support had a Category 1 hazard compared to 12% ofthose where no one received housing support.
  • Similarly, nearly one fifth (19%) of homes where the HRP was aged 65 orolder had a category 1 hazard, compared to 10% of those where the HRPwas aged 30 to 44