Buy-to-Let Is Far from Dead, Claims Survey

Despite rumours that buy-to-let is dead, there is no exodus of landlords leaving the private rented market, according to new official data.

The latest English Housing Survey 2023-24 data release reveals buy-to-let accounts for 4.9 million homes or 19 per cent of households.

The buy-to-let market has doubled since the early 2000s and has remained static since 2013 - with no sign of more landlords selling rental homes or leaving the market.

However, London has a different tenure model from the rest of the country. Some 32 per cent of households rent privately compared to around 17 per cent in most other regions. Fewer householders in the capital own their properties outright or buy with a mortgage than those outside London.

Tenant profile

Only 9 per cent of private renters are aged 65 or older. Most renters are aged 18 to 34. A chart plotting property tenure by age shows the profile of private renters is the reverse of that of owner occupiers.

Source: English Housing Survey

One in five private tenants are single men, and one in eight are single women. A third of private renters have dependent children, leading to an average household size of 2.3 people, compared with 2.7 for families buying a home with a mortgage.

The survey notes the number of couples with and without children is slowly decreasing across all tenures.

In 2019-20, couples accounted for 18 per cent of households, but by 2023-24, this had reduced to 16 per cent.

Buy-to-let also has the highest number of ethnic minority households—30 per cent, compared with 11 per cent of owner-occupiers and 7 per cent of those owning their homes outright.

Three out of four private renters are in full or part-time work.

Around 30 per cent of private renters are living with a disability - up from 25 per cent in 2022-23.

Tenant finances

When the data splits household income into five groups, with the first having the lowest income (£85 - £372 a week), private renters were evenly spread across each.

In 2023-24, weekly private rents increased by £27 in London and £29 in the rest of England. Private renters struggled the most with their finances, with one in three reporting money problems.

Some 52 per cent of private renters have savings.

Buy-to-let housing stock

England had 25.4 million homes, with 1.2 million empty. Buy-to-let accounted for 509,000 - almost half of the empty properties.

A third of the pre-1919 housing stock was privately rented, with 11 per cent of homes built between 1945 and 1964. Most privately rented homes were built before 1980.

Private landlords favour semi-detached homes, although large terrace houses and detached houses are popular.

What is the English Housing Survey?

The English Housing Survey (EHS) is a government survey which started in 1967 and reports people’s housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England.