New survey to help politicians make rental policy

The Welsh Housing Minister has committed to a Housing Survey to assist its policies for the private rental sector.

Propertymark has been campaigning on this issue since 2021 and wrote to the Welsh Climate Change Minister, Julie James, about this issue back in June.

In response to a question from Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservative Assembly Member for Aberconwy, Julie James confirmed during a debate about the issue in the Welsh Assembly that she expects to make an announcement on her proposals for a Welsh Housing Survey no later than the end of March 2024.

The proposals will include how the Welsh Government can improve the consistency of data collected and the use of administrative data in conjunction with periodic housing surveys, to provide a comprehensive understanding of housing stock in Wales.

In relation to the Private Rented Sector, Rent Smart Wales - which assists those who let or manage rental properties in Wales to comply with their Housing (Wales) Act 2014 obligations - has already improved the quality of data being collected and has introduced a series of interactive dashboards to replace monthly reports.

Tim Thomas, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Propertymark, says: “A Welsh Housing Survey could more accurately look at the reasons why tenancies are ended in the private rental sector, satisfaction levels of different housing tenures including social housing and data on home ownership. 

“This information is vital to the development of evidenced based policies that can support agents, landlords, tenants and home buyers and sellers. We look forward to continuing to work with the Minister and the Welsh Government on the development of a Welsh Housing Survey.”