1.1 Million Families Now Renting Privately

According to Shelter's analysis of the latest English Housing Survey stats, 1.1 million families are now renting their homes from a private landlord, nearly double the amount there were five years ago.  The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has welcomed the stats finding that private and social rented sectors are now equal in size. Shelter's analysis of the stats reveal that:

•The East Midlands saw the fastest growth in private renting between 2008 and 2011, with a 44% increase in the number of households renting, closely followed by the North West with a 43% rise. London saw a further growth in private renting, finally reaching the milestone of 1 in 4 households now renting from a landlord.

•Almost a third of first-time-buyers are now aged over 35.

•Amongst owner occupier households, weekly mortgage payments were, on average, 19% of their gross weekly income.  For private renters, weekly rent payments were on average 43% of their gross weekly income.

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