HC Deb 16 January 1981 vol 996 cc622-3W
Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of residential tenancies in England and Wales which are based on restricted contracts subject to rent tribunal control.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

the information is not available in the form requested. However, since 1974 most restricted contracts have been lettings by resident landlords. The national dwelling and housing survey found that in England in 1977 there were 200,000 households with resident landlords, of which some 150,000 are estimated to have been occupying under restricted contracts.

Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the total number of residential tenancies in England and Wales, subject to full security of tenure and rent control under the Rent Act 1977; and how many are "protected", "statutory", "regulated" and "controlled" tenancies, respectively;

(2) what is his estimate of the total number of residential tenancies in England and Wales; how many are regulated tenancies; how many are subject to private contractual arrangements; how many are subject to statutory form; and how many are furnished and how many are unfurnished tenancies.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The following estimates of the number of households in rented accommodation in England and Wales are derived from the national dwelling and housing surveys for those countries.

'000 households
Households renting accommodation* England (at end 1977) Wales (at end 1978)
—from councils and new towns 5,013 293
—from housing associations 225 4
—privately rented‡ unfurnished 1,830 84
furnished 590 16
7,658 397
* Excludes institutions, hostels and large boarding houses.
† Includes accommodation provided with a job (including such accommodation supplied by councils) and accommodation let at nil rent, but excludes leasees of more than 21 years.

Of those households in privately rented accommodation in England, 1.6 million were estimated to have regulated tenancies, which were subject to the Rent Act provisions on fair rents and security of tenure. A further 0.2 million were estimated to have controlled tenancies, which have now been converted into regulated tenancies by the Housing Act 1980. It is not possible to estimate the division of regulated tenancies between protected tenancies—which are still subject to contractual arrangements—and statutory tenancies—where the contract has come to an end. A breakdown of privately rented housing in Wales is not available.