Survey quashes eviction myths as majority of tenants end tenancies by choice NOT eviction

New data from the English Housing Survey quashes the media narrative, showing that most tenants end their tenancy by choice rather than through eviction.

The newly published 2023–24 figures reveal that 60% of private renters chose to end their last tenancy because they wanted to move, while only 10% were asked to leave by their landlord or letting agent.

Elsewhere, the survey challenges common stereotypes, with tenants reporting that landlords were generally supportive of renters keeping pets and receiving benefits.

More than half of tenants chose to end their tenancy because they wanted to

The English Housing Survey asked private renters who had a tenancy end in the past 12 months why their tenancy came to an end.

More than half (60%) said they chose to end the tenancy because they wanted to move.

Other reasons given by private renters included: that the tenancy was for a fixed period (14%), the tenancy ended by mutual agreement (14%) or they were asked to leave by their landlord or agent (10%)

95% of private rented households not been in arrears over the past year

Other findings from the survey reveal that more than 93% of tenants had not been refused a tenancy because of having pets, while only 7% reported being turned down for that reason.

Similarly, 95% of private renters receiving housing support said they had not been refused a tenancy due to receiving benefits, suggesting that most landlords are supportive.

Whilst the survey does reveal private renters have higher weekly housing costs, paying a mean weekly rent of £237 compared to the mean payment of £222 by mortgagors, it also shows that most tenants are managing well.

The survey reveals that 95% of private rented households and 85% of social rented households said they had not been in arrears over the past year, and more than half of renters (52%) had savings, compared to just 33% in 2013-14.

The English Housing Survey also shows that private renters with dependent children who had savings were more likely to report it was easy to pay rent (71%) than difficult (29%). Private renters with savings but without dependent children were even more likely to find it easy to pay rent (80%) than difficult (20%).

The full English Housing Survey can be read here 

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