A leading industry trade body says the latest English Housing Survey report proves that criticisms of the private rental sector’s costs and tenures are simply unjustified.

Responding to the latest survey, which has analysed the private rented sector during the 2017-18 period, Residential Landlords Association policy director David Smith says: “[The] survey dispels the myth that private renting means insecure tenancies and ever increasing costs. 

“It shows that renters are spending less of their income on housing, at 33 per cent, down from 34 per cent the previous year and 36 per cent in 2014/15, and are staying in their homes for over four years on average.

“As ministers look at ending so called ‘no fault’ evictions the survey finds that the large majority of those who moved out of their home did so because they wanted to, either for work, a larger home or to move to a different area (72 per cent) or because their tenancy had come to an end (eight per cent). A further 10 per cent moved on mutual agreement with their landlord.

“The majority (84 per cent) of private renters also reported being satisfied with their current accommodation, higher than in the social rented sector.”