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Private Rented Housing: Research

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 21 November 2025UIN 88657

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) research and (b) data his Department (i) collates and (ii) procures to monitor (A) trends in levels of private sector rent, (B) the number of dwellings for private rent and (C) the number of private sector landlords.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

My Department routinely monitors trends across the private rented sector, including levels of rent; the number of dwellings for private rent; and the number of private sector landlords.

To do this, we make use of data from existing surveys such as the English Housing Survey, the English Private Landlord Survey, and data from the Office for National Statistics and Hometrack. We have also commissioned Verian to carry out a longitudinal survey of private renters to help baseline and monitor the private rented sector reforms.

The government is committed to a robust evaluation of the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. This evaluation will include extensive data collection through interviews, surveys and focus groups and will involve engagement with a range of stakeholders including tenants, landlords, letting agents, third sector organisations, delivery partners, and government officials.

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