The English Private Landlord Survey
About the study
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.
If you have been invited to take part, you will have received a letter or email invitation from NatCen Social Research.
The email and letter will provide you with a 6-digit code 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 and their agents 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 Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (formerly MHCLG) to help inform the government’s approach to improving the quality and management of the private rented sector.
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, agent, property or tenant 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 and agents who have registered a deposit with one of the three government-backed tenancy deposit schemes.
Additional information about the survey
In October 2020 the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (now the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) commissioned NatCen Social Research to undertake a national survey of private landlords and letting agents 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.
Background to the survey
Previous governments have carried out national surveys of private landlords in England (eg, in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010 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
As in 2018, the EPLS will be carried out online with private landlords and letting agents in England who are registered with one of the three government-backed Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) schemes. Natcen will send out invites to agents and landlords containing a URL and an access code. The survey is being conducted in two phases, with the first involving a pilot of the survey approach and questionnaire and the second the mainstage survey.
Timetable
The survey was commissioned in October 2020, but was delayed heavily by the Coronavirus pandemic. The first phase Pilot completed on the 5th of November 2021. The second phase main stage survey began on the 25th of November 2021.
The mainstage survey fieldwork is being carried out over the months of November and December with the project working towards publishing findings in Spring 2022.
Privacy
We will treat the information you give us in the strictest confidence under the Data Protection Act 1998. The results collected are used for research purposes only. 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 Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities by emailing EPLS@communities.gov.uk