Private renting is growing extremely fast, faster than any other tenure. It has recently overtaken social housing in numbers of households accommodated, and totals over 5 million units. It increasingly houses low-income families who are unable to access social housing; it also houses large numbers of vulnerable single and formerly homeless people, as well as many younger households on modest incomes who cannot access social renting or owner occupation.
This research project will examine both the problems and potential of private renting in tackling homelessness, unaffordability, insecurity and poor conditions, by involving social landlords. It will directly address inequality in access to, and ability to pay for, a decent home. It will collect and disseminate previously hard-to-access and disparate information on private renting, drawing on evidence from social and private landlords, practical examples and models that tackle homelessness, insecurity, affordability and quality.
An objective is to strengthen the policy focus on private renting, highlighting its value, challenges and opportunities in tackling homelessness, insecurity and affordability. The project will inform government, professional housing bodies {Chartered Institute of Housing and National Housing Federation), local authorities (through the Local Government Association), leading housing associations, private landlord bodies, accreditation and licensing bodies, tenants' and residents' organisations. It will arouse significant public and press interest. It is a very vital and current story.