Tenants can not find property: Will reforms add to housing shortage?

NRLA research manager Nick Clay on the findings of the NRLA's most recent tenants' survey, showing many are struggling to find a suitable home for their budget.

In August the NRLA conducted one of its regular survey of tenants in the PRS. The survey was undertaken by Dynata and more than 2,000 tenants in the PRS across England and Wales took part. 

We have highlighted just one aspect of the survey, asking tenants whether they had experienced difficulties in finding their current home.  

As the graph shows, the more recently a tenant moved in, the more likely they were to have had trouble finding somewhere to live. 

What’s more, when those who reported this difficulty were asked what the problems were more than 60% of this group of tenants replied it was “a lack of choice” at their price-point. More than 40% also cited “competition with other tenants” as an issue.

According to the findings, tenants hold their landlords in high regard. Well over half, 56% of tenants in the survey, gave their landlords a satisfaction score of eight, nine or 10 out of ten. However the evidence the NRLA collects, as reported in our Landlord Confidence Index and quarterly surveys, indicates landlords are now selling up or reducing their holdings.  

The conclusion we must draw is that there are simply not enough properties at any given price point to offer tenants options when it comes to finding a places to live, with many settling for something that is not their ideal home, but was available at a suitable price.

Policy makers need to think about the implications of further legislative change which may have a further negative impact on supply.