The Data Observatory

The NRLA Data Observatory is a collection of official and other well-established data sources which when combined, provide a narrative of the Private Rented Sector (PRS). The NRLA tracks approximately 45 key data sets which are updated monthly, quarterly and annually. A selection of these appear in these pages.

Our Deep Insight blog provides a regular extension of the analysis which appears here, as well as those datasets which are not published in the Data Observatory section of this website.

The blog pages also features blog posts from other organisations and academics to provide insight on the PRS. Here you can also find more in-depth summaries of our regular reports and surveys.

Housing standards

Safety hazards

Chart 1: Proportion of English households with CAT 1 hazards

HHRS Category-1 hazards

The 29 HHSRS hazards are classified as Category 1 (CAT1) if a hazard represents a serious and an immediate risk to a person’s health and safety.

  • The proportion of PRS dwellings with a CAT1 hazard has more than halved since 2008. 
  • In 2021 the proportion of homes in the PRS with a CAT1 hazard rose from (a revised) 13.3% to 14.2%. The proportion of owner-occupiers having a CAT1 hazard rose slightly - from 9.1% to 9.5%. 
  • Since 2008, the reduction in the proportion of homes in the PRS with a CAT1 hazard (54% between 2008 and 2021) has been in line with that of owner-occupiers (which has reduced 59% over the same period).  

Energy efficiency - EPC rating

Chart 2: Analysis of energy efficient homes by tenure

EPC by tenure

The chart above shows the proportion of households in each tenure whos property has achieved an EPC rating of A-C. These are the most energy efficient properties.

The proportion of PRS properties in this highest tier has more than doubled since 2011. In 2021, almost half (44.5%) of properties in the PRS were rated A-C. Were 2007 the base point, then the increase is spectaular - in 2007 the English Housing Survey stated just 8% of properties met this standard.  

The proportion of households in the PRS with these high-level of energy efficiency remains near-identical to those who are owner occupiers.

The same English Housing Survey shows that in 2021, over 40% (44.4%) of property in the PRS was built before 1945. In comparison just 17% of social housing renters lived in property built before the end of WWII.  The level of investment in the PRS required to continue the excellent work done by landlords over the last fifteen-twenty years is therefore substantial.