It suggests that 1.66 million tenants in the private rented sector are actually frustrated first time buyers and the research from credit check firm Experian also gives an insight into why.
Some 18% don’t believe they would be accepted for a mortgage so feel renting is their only option, while 10% have struggled to raise a deposit and consequently been forced to delay their plans to buy. A further 5% have had to prolong their time renting as they’ve been held up in securing a mortgage.
Despite making regular payments for their housing, private renters don’t see this reflected on their credit report in the same way mortgage payers do, the firm explains. ‘Many would be first time buyers face the challenge of saving for a deposit on a home while paying rent each month,’ said Jonathan Westley of Experian.
He pointed out that the research also shows that a significant amount of people are happy to rent in the long term, whether it’s because they enjoy a good relationship with their landlord or the flexibility of rented accommodation. Indeed, a third are content to rent and have no plans to buy a home of their own in the next five years.
Some 25% of those surveyed intend to buy a place of their own sooner rather than later and the results show that 9% are currently saving for a deposit and believe they will be able to buy within the next 18 months, while 16% reckon they will need between two and five years to build up the required deposit.
Would be first time buyers who have been frustrated in their attempts to get onto the housing ladder are more likely to be single parents or couples with children. These tenants either doubt they would get a mortgage or have had difficulty securing one, or have struggled to get a deposit together.
The research also found that 74% would like to see rental payments contribute to their credit report. The greatest appetite for including rental payment data on credit reports is among people who are looking to buy in the next five years with 91% in this group recognising the importance of a good credit report and 83% would like to see rental payment data added to it.
People who are happy to rent tend to live alone or only with other adults and are less likely to see rent as ‘dead money’ than private tenants as a whole and 26% of satisfied renters disagree when asked if renting is a waste of money compared to 16% of all private renters.