Housing Tenure
17.5 million UK dwellings are owner-occupied
Household tenure, by type, UK
In quarter 2 2009, 17.5 million dwellings in the UK were owner-occupied. This was an increase of 1.3 million from 16.2 million in Q2 1997. In contrast, the number of homes rented in the social sector declined from 5.3 million in Q2 1997 to 4.5 million in Q2 2009. The number of privately rented homes rose from 2.4 million in Q2 1997 to 3.8 million in Q2 2009
Tenure varies markedly according to the type of household. Lone parents with dependent children are much more likely to rent their property than own it. In Q2 2009 around one-third (34 per cent) of these households in the UK were owner-occupiers, while the remainder rented their home, mostly from registered social landlords or local authorities. In contrast, three-quarters (75 per cent) of households comprising a couple with dependent children were owner-occupiers, and a quarter (25 per cent) rented.
Tenure also varies according to socio-economic status. In Q2 2009, almost three-fifths (57 per cent) of those who owned their homes outright were retired and two-fifths (36 per cent) were in employment. In contrast, just 6 per cent of people who were economically inactive for a reason other than retirement and 2 per cent who were unemployed owned their homes outright. Private renters were more likely to be in employment than social renters (68 per cent compared with 33 per cent). Social renters were more likely than private renters to be economically inactive (59 per cent and 26 per cent respectively).
Sources: Housing statistics return: Office for Deputy Prime Minister, Welsh Assembly, Scottish Executive, Labour Force Survey: Office for National Statistics
Notes: Pensionable age includes all females over the age of 60 and all men over the age of 65
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