Landlords and letting agents working in the private rented sector in England are being asked to give their views in what is being described as the most comprehensive survey of the sector for a decade.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has asked NatCen, the country’s largest social research agency to contact more than 100,000 landlords and agents for the survey.
They will be picked from those who are registered with the three Government tenancy deposit schemes and asked to take part in the survey about what kinds of homes they provide, their tenants and their experience of the PRS.
‘We are inviting landlords and letting agents from across England to take part in the survey.
The more landlords and agents who take part, the more accurate the results will be,’ said NatCen.
‘The English Private Landlord Survey will be the most authoritative evidence source on the profile and views of private landlords and their agents in England. The results will help inform future government policy about the private rented sector,’ it points out.
The findings will be presented to Government Ministers and officials as well as professionals and commentators in the private rented sector.
The survey questions, which are completed online, cover a variety of topics including lettings and tenancy policy and practice, landlord finances and taxation, future investment plans, willingness to rent to different types of tenants, the benefits system, energy efficiency and safety and awareness of and compliance with Government requirements.
The survey will be conducted over a six week period during March and April with landlords and agents being chosen randomly to take part.
