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More people owning their own home – and private rental tenants are increasingly satisfied with accommodation (27 July 2016)

Date: 27/07/2016
Duncan Lewis, Housing Solicitors, More people owning their own home – and private rental tenants are increasingly satisfied with accommodation

The latest English Housing survey released in July shows that more people than ever own their own home since 2003 – with a total of 14 million owner- occupiers across the country in 2015.

The report also shows that 80% of households which applied were given a mortgage – and there is an increase in satisfaction for private renters over the last ten years, with a large reduction in the number of private renters living in homes which do not come up to acceptable standards.

The figures were published after new data showing that lending for first-time buyers is higher than that for home movers for the first time in 20 years, with the number of first-time buyers’ mortgages up by 33%.

The new Housing Minister Gavin Barwell said:

“We are determined to ensure that anyone who works hard and aspires to own their own home has the opportunity to do so – since 2010, over 300,000 households have been helped into home ownership through government-backed schemes.

“The groundbreaking Housing and Planning Act will allow us to go even further delivering our ambition to build an additional one million homes.”

The survey shows that the reinvigorated and extended flagship Right to Buy scheme has boosted the ability of social housing tenants to buy their own home, with those planning to buy their current home continuing to rise from 20% in 2012 to 24% in 2014-2015.

The survey also shows that, since 2010 –2011, the majority of households whose mortgage applications were approved increased to 80% in the year 2014-2015, compared to 64% in 2010-2011.

There was also an increase in satisfaction with the tenure for private renters over the last ten years, rising from 48% in 2004-2005 to 65% in 2014-2015 – and 82% were satisfied with their privately rented accommodation.

Figures show there has also been a large decline in the proportion of private tenants living in below standard housing, decreasing from 47% in 2006 to 28% in 2014.

The government’s Housing and Planning Act contains a package of measures which will be implemented to ensure England’s nine million private tenants receive the quality housing and protections they deserve, including
a national database of rogue landlords and property agents convicted of serious offences – and banning orders for the most prolific and serious offenders.

The Act will also introduce civil penalty notices of up to £30,000 for certain breaches of housing legislation – and will extend Rent Repayment Orders to cover situations where a tenant has been illegally evicted or breached a banning order, allowing local authorities to retain that money for housing purposes where the rent was paid through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.

The Act will also apply a more stringent “fit and proper” person test for landlords letting out licensed properties, such as Houses in Multiple Occupation.

The figures show that more than 52,500 people have purchased their home through Right to Buy since the scheme was reinvigorated in 2012 – over 1,000 households a month – and more than 309,000 homebuyers have now been helped to purchase a home through government backed schemes, a total of 141 new homeowners a day.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including advising on private rented accommodation and conveyancing.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and our housing team is also able to advise on:

• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlords’ obligations
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Lease extensions
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.


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