The PRTB Rent Index. ESRI Research Notes 2013/2/4

Data from Census 2011 show that 28.8 per cent of households rent their accommodation. The Census also shows that, between 2006 and 2011, there was a dramatic increase in the share of households in private rented accommodation. Between 2006 and 2011 the number of households in Ireland increased by 187,000 or almost 13 per cent, to 1,649,000, while the number of households renting increased by 160,000. As a result of this change in tenure pattern, according to the 2011 Census, 18.5 per cent of households were in private rented accommodation, compared with 9.9 per cent in 2006

DETERMINANTS OF RESIDENTIAL SPACE HEATING EXPENDITURES IN GERMANY

We first examine the determinants of household expenditures on space heating and hot water supply in Germany. A number of socio-economic characteristics of households are included along with building characteristics. Our analysis covers information on more than 12,000 households in Germany for the years 1998 and 2003. The analysis continues by investigating whether different kinds of households are affected differently by increases in energy prices. Households in owner occupied properties are less affected compared to those in rented accommodation, this could be because owners are more likely to have installed energy-efficient heating and hot water supply systems and landlords have less of an incentive to improve the conditions of their rented accommodations. An energy policy targeting especially the latter group might benefit not only households in rented accommodation, but might increase energy-efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well.heating expenditures, Germany, space heating, energy-efficiency, price elasticity, income elasticity

Home or Hotel? A Contemporary Challenge in the use of Housing Stock

Over the past five years there have been significant changes made to Private Rented Sectors (PRS) across the UK. The PRS has become increasingly important to providing a home to millions, and there has been increased political focus towards renting at both National and Devolved Governments. At the same time, there has been a substantial increase in the number of short-term holiday lets enabled by online platforms such as Airbnb. There are concerns that housing stock is being transferred from being a home in the PRS to being tourist accommodation. This paper aims to explore the policy nuances that encourage short-term holiday lets over private rented accommodation. Furthermore, this paper examines the growth in short-term lets on Airbnb in London and identifies the extent to which professional property investors are using this platform. To accomplish this, we analyse secondary data on Airbnb listings across a four-year period. This analysis identified that there was a 283% increase in the number of listings available over this period, to 70,534 listings in London, and that there was a 316% increase in the number of listings provided by a professional host to 31,400 listings over the same period. The analysis of this data and the review of previous literature provides evidence to support the argument that previously privately rented homes are now being offered as tourist accommodation. The paper analyses the struggles this poses for policy makers, communities and housing providers, and then sets out challenges for future research

A review of homelessness and homelessness services in East Dorset

This report reviews the nature and extent of homelessness in East Dorset. In particular it focuses on: - Existing levels of homelessness; - The causes of homelessness within the local authority area; - Current service provision for homeless people/households; - Identifying gaps in the provision of current services. Reflecting the local authority’s desire to develop a more pro-active and preventative approach to addressing housing need, this report identifies a number of strategies that it may wish to adopt in ensuring that this particular aspect of housing need is tackled effectively, with targeted resources aimed at preventing and addressing homelessness issues

The East Midlands in 2010: housing in the East Midlands

The East Midlands in 2010 is the updated evidence base that supports the regional economic strategy, A Flourishing Region. This document presents detailed analysis of housing in the East Midlands

Responding to homelessness in North Dorset: A snapshot of current service provision and an estimate of service needs

This report reviews the nature and extent of homelessness in NorthDorset. In particular, it focuses on: - Existing levels of homelessness; - The causes of homelessness within the local authority area; - Current service provision for homeless people/households; - Identifying gaps in the provision of current services. Reflecting the local authority’s desire to develop a more pro-active and preventative approach to addressing housing need, this report identifies a number of strategies that it may wish to adopt in ensuring that this particular aspect of housing need is tackled effectively, with targeted resources aimed at preventing and addressing homelessness issues

The Legal Problems of Renters: Findings from How People Understand and Interact with the Law

At the time of the 2011 Census, 8.3 million (or 36 per cent) of households in England and Wales were rented. Thus, the ability of individual citizens to resolve legal problems related to rented housing is a matter of broad societal importance. Looking at the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Panel Survey (CSJPS), renting housing problems were reported by 4 per cent of first wave respondents, 3 per cent of second wave respondents, and accounted for 7 per cent of all ‘justiciable problems’ across both waves. Looking at just respondents who rented their home, problem prevalence rose to 10 per cent. As detailed elsewhere, rented housing problems are far from uniformly distributed across those who live in rented accommodation. They are more common for particular population groups, reflecting the ‘social patterning’ of legal problems (Pleasence, Balmer & Denvir, 2015). For example, the youngest survey respondents reported more such problems than others, as also did lone parents and cohabitants with children. Rented housing problems were reported to have often lasted a long time, with almost half of all problems still ongoing after twelve months and more than a quarter still ongoing after two years. Thus, their impact is felt both widely and deeply

PRS Profiles: Learning from tenants’ experiences to improve private renting in London

Generation rent is on the rise in London. According to the English Housing Survey, over a million households rented privately in the capital last year, and the proportion of London households in the private rented sector (PRS) has grown from around 14% in 2003-2004 to almost a third 10 years later. By historic standards, this may not actually be that large[1], but the share of renters is projected to grow (Theseira 2013). Because of this, any discussion about London’s housing supply crisis must include a consideration of how to increase the supply and improve the conditions of private rented accommodation