More private tenants in England want social housing

Three in 10 private tenants in England would prefer to live in social housing, which is up from 21% a year earlier.

Among those aged 65 or over, that preference rises to almost half.

The TDS Charitable Foundation’s national survey of more than 2,000 private tenants found that 47% of this age group would choose social housing.

The figure was similarly high among tenants receiving benefits, at 46%.

Tenants seeking a move

Social housing was also the preferred option for 39% of households with children and 35% of tenants living with a long-term health condition.

Meanwhile, 51% of respondents said they wanted to leave their current property but felt unable to do so.

In a separate finding about their last property search, 47% said they had struggled to find a suitable home.

Changing tenant needs

Dr Jennifer Harris, the head of policy at The Dispute Service (TDS) Group, said: “Our research highlights just how much the private rented sector has changed.

“What was once a sector associated particularly with students and younger people is now home to a much wider range of households, many of whom expect to remain renters for the long term.”

She added: “It is important that housing policy keeps pace with that changing reality.

“But the clearest message from the findings is the lack of choice many renters feel they have.”

Longer private tenancies

The average private tenancy is now estimated to last 4.7 years, almost a year longer than a decade ago.

Homeownership remains an ambition for 76% of tenants, although 44% expect to rent for the rest of their lives.

Ms Harris called for a significant housebuilding programme covering homes for ownership, private rent and social housing.

She said reforms to tenants’ experiences and rights needed to be accompanied by action to address the shortage of housing options.