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News: Tenants getting older because they can't afford to buy

Tue, 11 Feb 14

Families and older tenants now form a large and growing proportion of private renters, with the number of tenants over 30 increasing 6% in the past year.

Many are unable to get on the housing ladder by their mid-30s and therefore continue to rent in the private sector for longer.

The over 30s now account for nearly 60% of all tenants in England, Scotland and Wales, according to the Countrywide Monthly Lettings Index for January 2014.

The number of tenants in the 41 to 50 age group rose more than any other, up 2.2% year-on-year to form 16.2% of all tenants.

While some older people continue to rent because they can't afford to buy, others do so because it gives them greater flexibility and job mobility, Countrywide said.

The number of families living in the private rented accommodation has also increased in most regions, with London seeing the greatest year-on-year increase, up 6%.

The proportion of younger people renting privately has fallen 5.8% over the past 12 months

This is partly due to Help to Buy, which has helped thousands to get on or move up the housing ladder.

But many younger people are also forced to live in the family home for longer, due to rising living costs and job instability, Countrywide said.

Recently-published government figures showed that 22% of 20 to 34 year-olds in London are living at the family home, up from 18% a decade ago.

Nick Dunning, group commercial director at Countrywide plc, said: “Help to Buy is having a bigger impact on the housing market in the North of England than in other regions across England, providing younger people with the opportunity to buy their first home.

"Over the past nine months in the North East, the number of Help to Buy Equity Loan sales equated to 27% of all new properties built in the region, while in London the number of Help to Buy Equity loans was equal to just 7% of new housing completions.

"The strength of the housing market in London and the South East means that developers don’t have to rely as much on Help to Buy to sell homes.”

The research also showed that the UK average monthly rent in January 2014 was £859, up 0.6% across the month and 2.9% year-on-year.

Over the past 12 months, average monthly rents have increased in eight out of 10 regions, with Scotland seeing the most significant increase up 11.7% to £639.

Dunning said: “The large increase in rents in Scotland over the past year could partly be due to the fact that tenant fees can no longer be charged in Scotland. The cost of carrying out the work by the letting agent is instead passed onto the landlord who subsequently covers their costs by charging higher rents.”

The East Midlands and the North East also saw significant year-on-year increases in average monthly rents, up 5.7% and 5.5% respectively.

Arrears have fallen year-on-year in all regions apart from Scotland where they increased 2.6%. The North East saw the greatest fall in arrears down 1.9%.

Rent arrears decreased in all regions apart from Scotland, up 2.6% year-on-year.


See also: Rents by Town and Postcode

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