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06th July 2011

Government survey shows improvement in condition of rented properties

The English Housing Survey Housing Stock Report 2009, published today, shows a marked improvement in general condition of rented sector properties. Notable statistics include:

• -The private rented sector has had the most significant drop in the percentage of homes with damp problems – from 21% in 2001 to 15% in 2009.

• -It has also seen the largest increase across sectors in the number of homes with suitable secure windows and doors, rising from 37% in 2001 to 63% in 2009.

• -Properties rented privately again saw the most significant improvements in dwellings in terms of electrical safety and energy efficiency.

Mr Alan Ward (the Chairman of the Residential Landlord Association) commented:

“The latest figures on the condition of the UK’s housing stock show clear and substantial progress made by landlords in improving the condition of rented properties, which I welcome.

“As ever increasing numbers of people look to the sector to meet their housing needs, the latest figures show that the vast overwhelming majority of landlords understand their obligations to provide decent accommodation to their tenants.”

I’d speculate this is due to tenants being increasingly aware of the large amount of possibilities in the lettings market nowadays and not “putting up” with poor quality accommodation – perhaps landlords are almost forced into improving their upkeep of properties in order to retain their tenancies!

We, as lettings agents, note that increasingly, the apparent condition of the property when viewed is as much of a factor as the all-important price and location, in tenants choosing whether to take the property. 

Not to mention of course that a property with a generally moderate-to-high level of upkeep – cleaned and lightly redecorated regularly, and repairs seen to promptly – actually save landlord money in the long term, as small problems aren’t allowed to escalate into large ones, and low-level upkeep means less of a need for an expensive refurbishment in order to keep it in rentable condition.

The lesson may be obvious – keep your rental properties in good condition and repair! – but it’s a valuable one, and it seems from the report it’s one being learned by increasing numbers of landlords.