The number of people privately renting a home has nearly doubled in the past decade, according to the latest government census data.
In 2001, 1.9 million tenants rented a home for a private landlord – accounting for 9% of all households, says the Office of National Statistics.
The number surged to 3.6 million – 15% of households – by 2011, while another 698,000 households live rent free.
The 2011 census also showed the number of private renters has overtaken the number of social tenants, with 4.215 million people renting from a private landlord or letting agent, compared with 4.118 million living in a council or housing authority home.
In percentages, 18% rent privately, while 17% are social tenants. In 2001, the figures showed 12% were private tenants, while 19% of households had a social landlord.
Ownership is still the dominant form of tenure, with 64% (14.9 million) of households owning their own home in 2011, either with a mortgage or loan, or outright.
Home ownership has dropped 4% since 2001, but more people own their home outright, a rise of 2% from 29% (6.4 million) to 31% (7.2 million).
The number of married couples has slipped from 7.9 million (37%) to 7.7 million (33%), while the number of cohabiting couples has risen from 1.7 million (8%) to 2.2 million (10%).
Tenure
England and Wales, 2001 and 2011, all households
|
Thousands, per cent |
|||||||
| Tenure |
2001 |
2011 |
Change |
||||
|
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
||
| Owned | Owned outright |
6,381 |
29 |
7,207 |
31 |
826 |
1 |
| Owned with a mortgage or loan |
8,396 |
39 |
7,647 |
33 |
-749 |
-6 |
|
| Shared ownership |
140 |
1 |
178 |
1 |
39 |
0 |
|
| Social rented | Rented from council (local authority) |
2,869 |
13 |
2,208 |
9 |
-660 |
-4 |
| Other |
1,289 |
6 |
1,910 |
8 |
622 |
2 |
|
| Private rented | Private landlord or letting agency |
1,889 |
9 |
3,566 |
15 |
1678 |
7 |
| Other (including living rent free) |
698 |
3 |
649 |
3 |
-49 |
0 |
|
Household composition
England and Wales, 2001 and 2011, all households
|
Thousands, per cent |
|||||
| Household composition |
2001 |
2011 |
|||
|
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
||
| One family | Married or same sex civil partnership couple |
7,915 |
37 |
7,757 |
33 |
| Lone parent |
2,063 |
10 |
2,488 |
11 |
|
| Cohabiting couple |
1,794 |
8 |
2,298 |
10 |
|
| All aged 65 and over |
1,943 |
9 |
1,905 |
8 |
|
| One person | One person household |
6,503 |
30 |
7,067 |
30 |
| Other | Other household type |
1,442 |
7 |
1,850 |
8 |
Source: Office for National Statistics, December 2012
