Census Reveals Surge in Private Renting

The number of people renting homes from private landlords has almost doubled in 10 years, according to the latest census. The 2011 census shows the number of private renters in England and Wales has jumped from 1.9 million in 2001 to 3.6 million in 2011 – a rise of 88 per cent. People renting from their local authority has fallen 23 per cent, from 2.9 million in 2001 to 2.2 million in 2011. Those renting from other social landlords is up from 1.3 million to 1.9 million over the same period, an almost 50 per cent increase.  Read more on Inside Housing.