Digitalisation within and across UK infrastructure
Digital technologies are revolutionising much of the UK’s infrastructure. What are the are opportunities and challenges?
This POSTnote outlines the extent and nature of housing insecurity in the private rented sector, and outlines risk factors and impacts on tenants and landlords.
Housing insecurity in the private rented sector in England: drivers and impacts (594 KB , PDF)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PN729
The private rented sector (PRS) refers to tenants and their households, who pay rent to a private individual or organisation to legally live in the property as their home. In 2022/23, the PRS comprised 19% of homes in England, representing 4.6 million households.
PRS insecurity is characterised by unaffordability, and linked to wider undersupply of housing and rent inflation outpacing income. Private renters can encounter multiple insecurity issues, including:
Following the general election, the July 2024 King’s Speech included plans for a Renters’ Rights Bill. The Renters’ Rights Bill aims “to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including ending no-fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession”. The bill had its first reading in the Commons on 11 September 2024. Second reading is due on 9 October 2024.
This POSTnote focuses on research evidence for the extent of housing insecurity in the PRS, including how insecurity is related to PRS supply and demand. It also outlines risk factors and impacts on landlords, tenants, and their households.
Our other accompanying POSTnote on Housing insecurity in the private rented sector in England: policy implications (PN 730) outlines current and proposed future legislation, alongside policy opportunities and challenges for addressing housing insecurity in the PRS. This includes evidence-based analysis of issues related to the Renters’ Rights Bill.
POST is grateful to Xavier McNally for researching this briefing, to the Nuffield Foundation for funding his parliamentary fellowship, and to all contributors and reviewers. For further information on this subject, please contact the co-author, Dr Clare Lally.
POSTnotes are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer-reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:
Members of the POST board*
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government*
Department for Work and Pensions*
Nuffield Foundation*
Dr Amy Clair, University of Adelaide, and University of Essex*
Josh Davies, Nationwide Foundation*
Tom Darling, Renters Reform Coalition
Hannah Fairbrother, University of Sheffield*
Ken Gibb, UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence
Thomas Grounds, Grainger PLC*
Emma Hock, University of Sheffield*
Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom
Jenny Lamb, Shelter*
Gill Leng, Consultant*
Sam Lister, Chartered Institute of Housing*
Alex Marsh, UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence*
Katie Morris, Durham University*
Julie Rugg, University of York
George Williams, Work Foundation*
Dan Wilson Craw, Generation Rent*
James Wood, National Residential Landlords Association
*denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing.
Housing insecurity in the private rented sector in England: drivers and impacts (594 KB , PDF)
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