Landlord group says 56% of tenants would quit town if they could buy

More than half of tenants would move or consider moving to a different town or city in order to buy a home, according to a new poll of private renters.

The poll, conducted for the National Landlords’ Association, found that 27 per cent would relocate in order to buy a house, and a further 29 per cent would consider doing so. 

However, 44 per cent of tenants said they would not move to another town or city even if it meant being able to afford to buy their own place.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, tenants in London are the most open to the idea of moving, with 87 per cent saying they would relocate or consider relocating in order to buy a home. However, tenants in the East Midlands are the least receptive to the idea, with just 14 per cent willing to relocate.

The research also shows that almost half of those surveyed said they were unable to afford a deposit for a new home, with a fifth unable to access mortgage finance to buy.

The findings come as the latest English Housing Survey shows that more private rented homes now meet the decent homes standard than ever before, with fewer overcrowded properties and a larger proportion of energy efficient properties.

“Relocating is never an easy decision to make as it will often involve leaving behind friends and family. Then there are all the other considerations, not least whether you’ll be able to find the employment to make a move possible” says Richard Lambert, NLA chief executive.

“In the meantime, the private rented sector remains a key part of the UK’s housing mix and it’s essential that tenants can rely on it. The latest findings from the government are encouraging but more must be done to improve conditions for the minority of tenants who have a bad experience of renting privately.”