Social Research ¦ Market Research ¦ Behavioural Insight ¦ Evaluation ¦ SROI
Social Research ¦ Market Research ¦ Behavioural Insight ¦ Evaluation ¦ SROI
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have been releasing data from the 2021 census topic by topic. This now includes housing data, such as on tenure. At M·E·L Research, this has a bearing on our work in two distinct ways, but both about improving the situation for renters.
We work with councils that are proposing to introduce, renew or extend licensing of private rented properties. This can be additional licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs, housing with shared amenities like kitchens and bathrooms) or selective licensing of a wider range of private tenancies.
The government has set certain rules about when selective licensing can be introduced. One relates to the proportion of private rented housing across England. This latest census data shows this has increased to 20.6%. This is higher than the 19% figure currently being used, from the English Housing Survey. It raises the threshold a bit for councils considering selective licensing, especially in wards or neighbourhoods on the borderline of this value.
It also shows that one in five households are renting privately. This is double the position it held at its lowest in the early 1990s, when the sector housed fewer than one in ten people (just 9.3% according to the 1991 census). Much of this increase comes as homeownership has dropped, now down to 62% in England.
In England, 17% of households were social renters in 2021, according to the census. This has broadly been the same picture for the past decade or more.
But looking at the details shows the bigger changes over the decades. Today, a bigger share of properties is owned by housing associations, housing 8.8% of social tenants, compared to 8.3% from councils. Looking back to the 1991 census, however, shows housing associations at just 3.2% but council housing at 19.9%.
Put together, it shows how 38% of households rent their property in England. Licensing of private rented properties is one tool to draw in extra funding to police the worst of the sector. Finding out how satisfied – or not – social tenants are is a way to listen and then act on feedback.
For further information on how we can help you with private rented or social housing research, please contact Adam Knight-Markiegi.
