Private renters feel the effect of the high cost of housing

A newly commissioned poll, conducted on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Housing, shows that private renters are currently feeling the effects of the high cost of housing. Thirty-nine per cent of those living in private rented homes agree they might have to leave their local area in the future because the cost of housing is too high, compared with 20% across Great Britain as a whole.

(Click or tap the Infographic to enlarge)

The survey also found that:

• Four in ten private renters (40%) are concerned about being able to pay the rent right now (Great Britain average: 24%)
• 43% are concerned they won’t be able to meet their monthly payments in 12 months’ time (GB average: 29%)
• Half (48%) say concerns about their housing costs are causing them a great deal or fair amount of stress (GB average: 32%)
• Two-thirds (65%) say the cost of housing limits the amount they have to spend on other things either a great deal or a fair amount (GB average: 49%)

The survey also showed that people living in the private rented sector are more unhappy with their homes than the average person in Great Britain. Eighteen per cent say they are very or fairly dissatisfied with their home (GB average: 12%), 19% say it is in poor condition (GB average: 11%), 26% say their home is too expensive (GB average: 10%) and 29% say it is too small or lacks space (GB average: 19%).

More widely Britons perceive access to the housing market to be harder than it was in the past and expect this to be harder in the future. The survey found that:

• 60% of Britons believe it is harder for them to buy or rent a home than it was for their parent’s generation when they were the same age
• 75% believe it will be harder for the children of today to buy or rent a home than it is for them

Downloads

• Download the topline (PDF)
• Download the data tables (PDF)
• Download the infographic (PDF)

Technical information Ipsos conducted a survey for the Chartered Institute of Housing involving 2,000 GB adults aged 16-75 online. The survey was conducted between 30 May-4 June 2014. Data are weighted by gender, age, work status, tenure and region to reflect the GB adult population.