Most renters are satisfied with their tenure (and are online)
New research by Ipsos for Affinity Sutton - one of the biggest providers of affordable housing in England - finds most private and social renters satisfied with their tenure but also that significant "digital divides" exist within and between the two tenures.
New research by Ipsos for Affinity Sutton – one of the biggest providers of affordable housing in England – finds most private and social renters satisfied with their tenure but also that significant “digital divides” exist within and between the two tenures.
The survey, undertaken during June and July, covered attitudes towards tenure among private and social renters (those renting from a local authority or housing association):
- Asked, Taking everything into account how satisfied or dissatisfied with being a council/housing association tenant/private tenant, 74% of social renters answer positively as do 65% of private renters.
- Private renters with children tend to be more dissatisfied than that those without – 20% against 14% - but the gap is much smaller among social renters (14% against 13%).
- While both private and social tenants rate their own tenure as better a providing a sense of community and peace and quiet from neighbours, social renters believe more strongly that social renting provides prompt repairs.
The survey also measured access to digital devices and use of the internet:
- 71% of social renters have access to the internet, compared to 91% of private renters.
- While only 8% of social renters aged under 45 do not have access to the internet, this rises to 47% of 45+ year olds. The equivalent gap is narrower for private renters (2% and 27%).
- 91% of social renters with children have online access.
- Social renters with access tend to go online less frequently than their counterparts who rent privately.
- 46% of social renters have access to a smartphone compared to 66% of private renters and 62% of British adults.
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Technical Note
Ipsos interviewed 6,067 British adults aged 16+ face-to-face in-home during 6 June-16 July 2014. This included 1,159 private renters and 1,056 social renters. Results have been weighted to the known population and tenure profiles.
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