Deep Insight

Private Rented Sector trends

These blog posts are written to prompt discussion and debate about the role of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) in the UK.

The posts provide more detail on trends which emerge in our analysis of datasets in the Observatory. They also highlight specific topics and comments landlords make in our regular or occasional surveys.

Academics, policy makers and practitioners also make regular contributions to the blog.  

How to reduce the supply of rented homes: introduce Rent Controls!

This blog examines landlord views on various rent control scenarios and their potential impact on the PRS, based on findings from a YouGov landlord survey. Commissioned by the NRLA in the Winter of 2022-23, the survey collected responses from over 1,000 landlords (10% of whom were NRLA members) renting properties across England and Wales.

Deep Insight Eddie Griffiths 04/09/2023
How to reduce the supply of rented homes: introduce Rent Controls!

English Housing Survey 2021-22: key points

Each year the English Housing Survey (EHS) publishes data on housing and housing conditions across all tenures. The most recent data (2021-22) provides a picture of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) as a tenure. Researchers, journalists and policy makers rely on the EHS as a key source of information. This post provides a snapshot of the information available on the sector.

Deep Insight Eddie Griffiths 25/05/2023
English Housing Survey 2021-22: key points

It’s personal – why tenants still love you

The spring 2023 tenant survey once again showed high levels of satisfaction with independent landlords. This post outlines some of the reasons why, despite a three-cornered attack on PRS landlords, tenants continue to appreciate the integrity, hard work and strong customer focus of independent landlords.

Deep Insight Nick Clay 15/05/2023
It’s personal – why tenants still love you

Landlords stepping up to help tenants cope with rising utility costs

This blog post reports on the NRLAs survey of over 2,000 tenants in the PRS. There is a focus on the impact rising utility bills have had on tenants and their household budget. It finds that when tenants raise concerns with their landlord, many will actively support tenants - a reality which contrasts to media coverage of the sector.

Deep Insight Eddie Griffiths 09/05/2023
Landlords stepping up to help tenants cope with rising utility costs

Yet another problem! The PRS confronts inflation and interest rates

This post looks at the severity of the impact inflation and rising interest rates are having on landlords and the PRS. It identifies a tipping point for landlords at which their business becomes unsustainable. Inflation is placing an additional strain on all landlords - whether they have loan finance or not. Those that have loan finance are now facing the impact of earlier decisions to abolish MIR for landlords.

Deep Insight Nick Clay 28/04/2023
Yet another problem! The PRS confronts inflation and interest rates
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