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This research suggests that it is economic pressures rather than government policies which have been most important in changing the role of private renting across Europe. The research, undertaken by LSE London with the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research and experts from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands found that demand for private renting is growing for four main reasons. First, in many places it has become harder to buy a home. Also, shifts in economic activity mean younger and more mobile people want to live in big cities and university towns, and the number of students (both national and international) in higher education has grown. Finally, there is some evidence that more young households are actively choosing to rent—some because of credit constraints and a growing feeling that home ownership is risky; others because renting privately offers better choice.

Author

Christine Whitehead

Kath Scanlon

Sarah Monk

Connie Tang

 

Publication Date

June 2016