The English Housing Survey’s latest survey highlights how seldom Section 21 notices/evictions have been used by private landlords.

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The survey shows that during 2022-23 around 63% of private tenants who had moved homes in the previous 12 months had ended the tenancy themselves because of employment opportunities being amongst the most common reasons, along with wishing to live in a nicer area or upgrading to a larger rented home.

Just 9% of PRS households that took part in the survey said they had to move because of eviction with the majority saying the landlord either wanted to move back into the home or to sell up.

Around half were asked to leave informally but 37% were issued with a Section 21 notice and 2% left after a Section 8 notice.

The survey reveals that around 78% of private tenants said they currently have no fears of being evicted and 68% said they feel safe enough in their housing situation to plan ahead for a long term future.

The Housing Survey’s report shows that nearly a fifth of the population(19%) live in the PRS and have an overall average younger age group than in other tenancies. One third of households in the PRS are single occupants and couples living with or without children make up 40% of  the sector.

Around 5% of PRS homes are overcrowded with London having the most but the capital also accounts for 16% of under occupied properties with at least one vacant bedroom.

According to the report PRS tenants have higher weekly housing costs than any other tenures with an average of £231, and of course the North/South divide in affordability as London renters pay at least 100% more than those tenants living in the North East.

Private renters will be the most likely to have issues in their homes such as damp or hazardous conditions and classed as unfit for purpose, but the report states that 2.1 million owner occupiers’ homes will have at the very least one category 1 hazard.