The English Private Landlord Survey

We would like to hear from landlords in England about their views and experiences of private renting.

About the study

We are inviting landlords from across England to take part in the survey.  

The more landlords who take part, the more accurate the results will be.  

If you have been invited to take part, you will have received a letter or email invitation from the National Centre for Social Research.

The email and letter will provide you with unique access codes and a web link to enable you to complete the survey online.

Why take part?

The English Private Landlord Survey will be the most authoritative evidence source on the profile and views of private landlords in England. 

The results will help inform future government policy about the private rented sector.

The findings will be presented to government ministers and officials as well as professionals and commentators in the private rented sector and we expect the findings to gain media attention.

What type of questions will I need to answer?

You will be asked to select answers from a range of questions on different topics. The types of topics include:

  • 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.
  • Awareness of and compliance with government requirements.

If the survey raises any questions for you as a landlord, you may like to refer to the government’s online guide 'How to Let', that sets out the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords.

How is the survey funded?

The survey is funded by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to help inform the government’s approach to improving the quality and management of the private rented sector. 

You can find a copy of the previous government funded private landlord survey here.

How we protect your information

We will treat the information you give us in the strictest confidence under the Data Protection Act 2018. No one will be able to identify any landlord, property or tenants from the survey data or findings. You can find out more about how we protect your information here.

Why have I been selected to take part?

Our researchers have selected a sample of landlords who have registered a deposit with one of the three government-backed tenancy deposit schemes.

Additional information about the survey

In October 2020 the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to undertake a national survey of private landlords in England. The aim of the survey is to provide information to help the government monitor progress towards its policy aims and develop initiatives that meet the needs of landlords and tenants. This is part of a long running series of survey that has previously been done in 2021, and 2018. 

The types of topics to be covered in the survey include: 

  • 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; 
  • Awareness of and compliance with government requirements. 

Overall approach

The EPLS will be carried out online with private landlords in England who are registered with one of the three government-backed Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) schemes. NatCen will send out invites to landlords containing a URL and an access codes.

Timetable

The mainstage survey fieldwork is being carried out in April 2026 with the project working towards publishing findings in Autumn 2026.

Privacy

We will treat the information you give us in the strictest confidence under the Data Protection Act 2018. The results collected are used for research purposes only. There will also be a question within the survey that will allow you to opt-in to being recontacted for follow-up research. You will never receive any junk mail as a result of speaking to us. We never pass on your details to other organisations for commercial purposes.

Read our privacy notice for more information.

Contact

For anything not covered here, please email the NatCen research team on landlordsurvey@natcen.ac.uk or call us free on 0808 168 1356. You can also contact the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by emailing EPLS@communities.gov.uk.