OFFICIAL: Eight in ten private renters ‘happy with their homes’
NRLA welcomes latest government report showing high levels of satisfaction in private rented sector.
Official figures have revealed that more than 80% of private renters are happy with their accommodation – beating the rating for the social rented sector – a result which has been welcomed by those representing landlords.
According to the latest government’s English Housing Survey, 82% of private tenants are satisfied with their accommodation, compared with just 74% of those in properties owned by councils or housing associations.
The survey also shows that 76% of private renters were satisfied with the services provided by their landlord, compared with 64% of social sector tenants. The survey covers the period from 2022-2023.
Satisfied
Meera Chindooroy, Deputy Director for Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy at the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), says: “As the government’s own data shows, the vast majority of renters are satisfied with their housing and the services provided by their landlord.
“We need to build on this to ensure that every landlord is doing what the vast majority already do, namely providing decent housing for their tenants.”
He added: “We accept there are many challenges facing the sector and we will work with the government to ensure its planned reforms to the rental market work for renters and responsible landlords.”
Energy ratings
Other figures from the report show that in 2022, 4% of dwellings had a problem with damp, an increase from pre-pandemic levels (3%) with private rented dwellings rising from 7% to 9% between 2019 and 2022.
Meanwhile, over the previous 10 years, the proportion of homes in the highest energy efficiency bands A to C increased from 19% to 48%. Homes in the social rented sector saw the largest rise, from 36% to 70%.
The survey also reveals that owner-occupation remains the largest housing sector in England (65% of households), with the social rented sector being the smallest (16%). The private rented sector remains broadly unchanged since 2013-14 at 19%.
Most first time buyers funded the purchase of their first home with savings, while there was an increase in those reporting help from family or friends (from 27% in 2021-22 to 36% in 2022-23).
Excellent progress it was only last year that Shelter’s survey found 9 out of 10 renters were living in squalor and terrified of being evicted at a moment’s notice.