More than 80 per cent of private renters in England are satisfied with their accommodation according to the latest English Housing Survey.
The English Housing Survey (EHS) is a national survey of people’s housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England.
Nearly one in five households in England live in the private rented sector, making it the second largest tenure.
Just over 4.4 million households live in the private rented sector in England, 19 per cent of all households.
By comparison, 17 per cent (four million) live in the social rented sector and 65 per cent (15.4 million) are owner occupiers.
The number and proportion of private rented households has declined from 20 per cent and 4.7 million households in 2016/17.
The survey’s latest research showed some 83 per cent of private renters were satisfied with their current accommodation, a figure that has remained constant over the past 10 years.
In comparison, the proportion of social renters satisfied with their accommodation stands at 78 per cent, having fallen from 81 per cent in 2018/19.
The survey reports also that 75 per cent of private renters are satisfied with the way their landlords carry out repairs and maintenance, the highest figure for around a decade.
In contrast, 66 per cent of social renters were satisfied with the way their landlords carried out repairs and maintenance, down one percentage point from the previous year.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, says: “The NRLA is mindful of the challenges the private rented sector is confronted with and remains firmly committed to tackling them in a spirit of co-operation between tenants, landlords and government.
“However, today’s figures demonstrate that the vast majority of private renters are satisfied with their accommodation and the service being provided by their landlord.
“This positive feedback is representative of tenants’ experiences across the private rented sector, and it is through this lens that future changes need to be seen.”
