The latest English Housing Survey (EHS) provides a detailed snapshot of the housing landscape in England, offering valuable insights into the state of homes and the circumstances of those who live in them. The EHS is a crucial source of information for policymakers and industry professionals, and the most recent findings reveal several key trends.

Key Findings on Housing Quality and Conditions

• Non-Decent Homes: The overall rate of non-decent homes has continued to fall, dropping from 17% in 2019 to 15% in 2023. While this is a positive trend, the private rented sector has not seen a statistically significant decrease in non-decent homes, and the prevalence of serious hazards and damp remains a concern.
• Hazards and Damp: In 2023, 10% of private rented homes had a Category 1 hazard, which is significantly higher than in the owner-occupied (8%) and social rented (4%) sectors. Furthermore, damp was more prevalent in private rented homes (9%) than in social rented (7%) and owner-occupied (4%) properties.
• Energy Efficiency: The energy efficiency of homes across all tenures has continued to improve. The proportion of homes in the highest energy efficiency bands (A-C) has increased from 23% to 52% over the last decade. The social rented sector has seen the most significant improvement, with the proportion of homes in bands A-C rising from 36% to 70%.

Household Demographics and Affordability

• Tenure Trends: Owner occupation remains the largest tenure group, accounting for 65% of households in England. The private rented sector has remained a similar size since 2013-14, making up 19% of households, while the social rented sector is the smallest at 16%.
• First-Time Buyers: While most first-time buyers still rely on their own savings, there has been a notable increase in those receiving financial assistance from family and friends, rising from 27% in 2021-22 to 36% in 2022-23.
• Affordability: The survey highlights the growing difficulty for many to afford housing costs. In 2022, 11% of mortgage holders found it difficult to afford their payments. This difficulty was even more pronounced for renters, with more than a quarter of both private and social renters (29% and 27% respectively) finding it hard to pay their rent.

The EHS provides a clear picture of the ongoing challenges in England’s housing market, from the quality of homes to the financial pressures on households. It underscores the need for continued focus on improving housing conditions, particularly in the private rented sector, and addressing affordability issues across all tenures.