Just over two-thirds (68%) of all households owned their own home in 2000, compared with 54% in 1981.

• Most of the increase in owner occupation occurred during the 1980s, which is partly a reflection of the introduction at that time of the right to buy local authority housing . By 1991, 67% of all households were owner occupied and the proportion remained at about that level throughout the 1990s.

Over the same period (1981-2000):

• the proportion renting council housing gradually declined from 34% in 1981 to 16% in 2000

• the proportion renting from a housing association was static at 2% throughout the 1980s followed by a slow but steady increase to 6% in 2000

• the proportion of private renters declined during the 1980s (from 10% in 1981 to 7% in 1991). This was followed by a gradual increase to 10% in 1995 and remained at that level throughout the late 1990s. In 2000, 10% of all households were private renters - 7% rented unfurnished and 3% rented furnished accommodation.