Public Servant Lifestyle

Is still his (or her) castle it seems - with seven out of ten of English householders (14.4 million) now owning their own home according to a survey.

Findings reveal that 20% (4.2 million) rent from the social sector (our local authority, or a registered social landlord) while 10% (2.0 million) rent privately.

Preliminary results from the Survey of English Housing are part of the ongoing household poll from the department of transport, local government and the regions (DTLR). The survey provides important housing data, on owner-occupation and the social and private rented sectors.

The current preview was carried out, for DTLR, by the National Centre for Social Research. Further results will be published later this year, and in early 2002.

The preview reports that 2.3 million households (11%) had moved in the year prior to interview. More than four of ten (42%) of private renters had moved in the previous year, compared to 11% of social renters and 7% of owners.

Dependent Children

Some 37% of households contained a couple with no dependent children living with them, 28% consisted of one person living alone, 22% contained a couple with dependent children, and 7% a lone parent with dependent children.

Nine out ten of household heads buying, with a mortgage, were in employment. Overall, around two-thirds of all owner occupied households contained at least one person in work, compared to around one-third of households in the social sector. 67% of council tenants, and 73% of registered social landlord tenants, were very or fairly satisfied with their landlord, giving an overall average, for the social sector, of 69%. This compares with 78% of private sector tenants.

When asked what improvements they would like to see in their local area, 47% of householders mentioned crime and vandalism, 45% mentioned opportunities and facilities for children and young people, and 38% mentioned local amenities, parks and leisure facilities.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the largest independent social research institute in Britain. For further details visit: www.natcen.ac.uk

*Figures based on preliminary results from the 2000-2001 Survey of English Housing. The Survey of English Housing is a project operated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, ODPM, (formerly the DTLR) surveys around 20,000 households each year, providing a wide range of useful data on the housing circumstances of people throughout England. The 2000-01 survey was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research.

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