Citizens Advice report is irresponsible!

Citizens Advice report is irresponsible!

8:57 AM, 1st May 2020, About 4 years ago 3

Text Size

Research out today by Citizens Advice suggesting that some 2.6 million private renters have missed a rent payment, or expect to do so, owing to coronavirus is potentially a long way wide of the mark and irresponsible says the NRLA.

Citizens Advice appears to have extrapolated this figure from just 25 renters who said in a survey that they are behind on their rent, because of coronavirus and 74 who say they expect to be behind. This comes from a generalised survey of just 2,016 adults across the whole of the UK.

The National Residential Landlords Association says that this small, generalised survey has produced different results from a recent, specialised survey of renters reported in The Guardian which showed that instead of 23% of private renters not being able to pay the rent as suggested by Citizens Advice, only 2% had missed a rent payment and 12% were struggling to pay.

Further research by Hamptons International has found that 70% of tenancies that were due to end in March were renewed. This was the highest level in any March since 2008 showing that the vast majority of landlords are supporting their tenants to feel secure in their properties during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Norris, Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association said:

“Clearly there are many tenants facing difficult times as with all sections of the community, including landlords, but speculating about serious issues based on minimal data does nothing to support or help those in need.

“It is a crude simplification and potentially very misleading to extrapolate figures from such a small sample.

“Whilst the overwhelming majority of tenants are continuing to pay their rents in full and on time, we continue to call for greater support for those who are struggling to pay.

“This should include ensuring benefits cover entirely the cost of people’s rents where they need it and scrapping the five week wait for the first payment of Universal Credit.”

Notes:

The total number of private renters in the UK figure used by Citizens Advice for its extrapolation is not disclosed. The NRLA has used the figure of 11 million as listed by the Full Fact website at: https://fullfact.org/election-2019/labour-eleven-million-rent/ to calculate that they are claiming that 23% of private renters have missed a rent payment, or expect to do so.

The polling referenced for The Guardian was undertaken by Opinium. Whilst Opinium has published a report on this, it has not yet published online the full data tables which reference the figures quoted in this press release. The tables can be provided on request.

The Hamptons International data can be accessed at: https://www.hamptons.co.uk/research/articles/2020/Hamptons-lettings-index-march-2020.pdf/.


Share This Article


Comments

Luk Udav

12:01 PM, 1st May 2020, About 4 years ago

1. Perhaps give the CA's report reference: it's
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/media/press-releases/millions-facing-financial-cliff-edge-when-coronavirus-protections-end2/
2. I would have thought 70% renewing when there is no chance of viewing anywhere else should be considered very low.
3. Why is a sample size of 2016 "small"? It's bigger than those done when sampling voting intentions. I note that Hamptons doesn't disclose its sample size.

Chris @ Possession Friend

13:59 PM, 1st May 2020, About 4 years ago

Did I read that correctly ? -
NRLA actually speaking up for landlords ?
Let alone criticising a public body, - what next, are they going to take Shelter to task.
Someone pinch me, I've been asleep too long.

LANDLORD 35

9:29 AM, 2nd May 2020, About 4 years ago

This is the same method of calculation that Shelter uses.
Get a survey company like NatCen to take a small sample then
extrapolate the results.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now