Housing insecurity in the private rented sector in England: drivers and impacts

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: 

• Security of tenure, such as being unaware of rights in fixed term tenancies and feeling obliged to move when they end.  

• Affordability, such as difficulty paying rent or spending a large proportion of household income on housing. 

• Multiple moves, such as through forced moves due to eviction or intolerable living conditions. 

• Property quality, such as living with hazards such as damp, mould, and excessive cold.  

• Overcrowding, such as living in properties with fewer bedrooms than the household requires.  

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. 

Key points 

• In 2022/23, the private rented sector (PRS) comprised 19% of homes in England, around 4.6 million households.  

• Research indicates a limited supply of affordable PRS homes and increases in tenant demand. England rent prices as a share of disposable income are some of the highest in Europe. 

• Evidence suggests that PRS tenants are more likely to live in poor-quality homes and move more often than homeowners or social housing renters. People may experience multiple insecurity issues at the same time, and issues can have a knock-on effect on each other. 

• Housing insecurity can increase risk of, and result in, homelessness. It can also negatively impact people’s physical and mental health, employment prospects and ability to form support networks in their local community.  

• Demographic and socioeconomic factors, and/or changes in life circumstances, may increase the likelihood of people experiencing housing insecurity in the PRS, including PRS households in receipt of housing benefit. 

Acknowledgements 

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.