The latest English Housing Survey (2023-24) highlights improvements in housing standards and energy efficiency, but also persistent challenges in the private rented sector.

1️⃣ Housing Quality & Safety

• Overcrowding remains at 3%, unchanged from previous years.
• Under-occupied homes in the private rented sector fell from 16% to 13%, indicating increased housing pressure.
• Non-decent homes: Overall, 15% of homes in England were classed as non-decent, down from 17% in 2019.
  • Owner-occupied homes improved (16% → 14%)
  • Social rented homes improved (12% → 10%)
  • No significant improvement in the private rented sector.
• Category 1 hazards (serious safety risks) remain most prevalent in the private rented sector (10%), though this has improved from 14% in 2021.

2️⃣ Damp & Condensation Issues

• 5% of homes had damp problems, the highest level in five years.
  • Private rented sector: 9% affected.
  • Social rented sector: 7% affected.
  • Owner-occupied homes: 4% affected.
• Serious condensation (3%) is more common than rising damp (2%) or penetrating damp (2%).
  • Local authority homes (7%) were worst affected.

3️⃣ Energy Efficiency Improvements

• Homes in EPC bands A-C have more than doubled, rising from 23% (2013) to 52% (2023).
• Homes in the lowest bands (E-G) have dropped from 26% to 9%.
• Average cost to upgrade homes to EPC C: £7,320, with owner-occupied homes being the most expensive to upgrade.
• Central heating coverage:
  • Owner-occupied & local authority homes: 95%
  • Housing associations: 91%
  • Private rented homes: 86% (lowest among tenures)
• Insulation improvements (2013-2023):
  • Loft insulation (200mm+ thickness): 37% → 40%.
  • Wall insulation: 46% → 53%.
  • Double glazing: 80% → 89%.
• Smart meter usage:
  • Owner-occupiers (59%) and social renters (53%) were more likely to have one than private renters (47%).

Conclusion: Progress but Persistent Challenges

✔️ Overall housing quality has improved, with fewer non-decent homes and better energy efficiency.
❌ Private rented homes still lag behind in safety, heating, insulation, and damp issues.
🔍 Policy focus needed on improving PRS standards, affordability of energy efficiency upgrades, and enforcement of housing regulations.