Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding in the English Housing Survey 2020 to 2021 that private renters spend a higher proportion of their household income on rent than owner-occupiers spend on mortgages.

In 2020-21, on average, those buying their home with a mortgage spent 18% of their household income on mortgage payments, whereas rent payments were 31% of household income for private renters. Since 2010-11, the percentage of household income spent by private renters has reduced from 35%, compared with owner occupiers who spend a similar percentage of their household income on mortgage payments.

Whilst three quarters of private renters find no difficulties in keeping up with their rent, we understand that affordability may be an issue for some. The Government has taken action to reduce the financial barriers that prevent tenants from accessing and moving within the PRS.