Forget Generation Rent, we’re on course to become Nation Rent

June 7, 2019

Research by VeriSmart, the letting compliance specialists, has looked at what point in the future the UK could lose its homeowner status as the scales tip towards a greater number of rental sector occupants compared to owner-occupiers.

The UK is a nation of aspirational homeowners, but the high cost of property has seen many remain resigned to the rental sector. In fact, when it comes to the percentage of homeowners, the UK currently ranks as the 24th lowest of all 28 EU nations at just 65%.

In contrast, the UK is home to the fifth highest percentage of tenant occupiers of all EU nations, behind just Germany, Austria, Denmark and France.

The latest data shows that since 2010, the percentage of owner-occupant homeowners has fallen by -5% while the percentage of occupants in the rental sector has grown by 5%.

Despite this, homeowners still account for 65% of the market as we remain a nation driven by the goal of owning our own home. However, should this seven-year trend persist we could start to see this change as more and more of us remain in the rental sector.

Based on the previous decline in homeownership levels, the scales would tip in favour of tenants by 2039 with 50.7% of us renting to 49.3% owning our own home. By 2045 this will have grown to 55% of the nation living in the rental sector to 45% classes as owner occupants.

This isn’t a trend driven out of necessity but rather people choosing to rent within the private sector, as during this time the number of us in social rental accommodation has also dropped.

Founder and CEO of VeriSmart, Jonathan Senior, commented:

“We are currently seeing a shifting mentality in the way we choose to live our lives and for Generation Rent, in particular, there is no longer that urgency to make it out of the rental sector and secure their own ‘piece’ of bricks and mortar.

This was initially driven by consistently buoyant house price growth coupled with stagnant wage growth providing no other option but to rent, however, social rental numbers are falling, Build-to-Rent is growing in prominence, and there has been a number of tenant-friendly changes to the sector.

All of these changes are making the rental sector a more attractive place to be and as a result, we are seeing more of us opt for it and stay there for much longer than we may have traditionally.”

UK – Tenure Type Distribution (%)
Tenure Type
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Percentage / Distribution change over a seven-year period
Owner
70
67.9
66.7
64.6
64.4
63.5
63.4
65
-5%
Tenant
30
32.1
33.3
35.4
35.6
36.5
36.6
35
5%
Projection – Owner vs Tenant Occupation (%)
Year
Owner
Tenant
2010
70
30
2017
65
35
2024
60
40
2031
55
45
2038
50
50
2039
49.3
50.7
Tipping Point
2045
45
55

 

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Fewer than 3% of London rental homes available

The latest research from Benham and Reeves has found that fewer than 3% of London’s private rental homes are currently available to tenants, highlighting the severe lack of supply across the capital at a time when further legislative changes could place additional strain on supply within the sector. Benham and Reeves analysed current rental market…
Read More →
Adding second coat of varnish floor boards
Home and Living

Cottagecore Design

The term “cottagecore design” has risen by 100% since November 2025, with the term “cottagecore” itself now getting nearly 10,000 searches (9,900), according to Traditional Beams. Cottagecore refers to an aesthetic that romanticises simple, rural and sustainable living, popularised on platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok, and embraces a cosy and pastoral lifestyle. However, while…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Property specialist predicts spike in traditional interiors after Bridgerton hit

With Bridgerton Season 4 debuting with an impressive 39.7 million views in its first week on Netflix, property specialist predicts that traditional interiors will be the biggest renovation trend of 2026. Mitchell Martyn, Property Finance Specialist at Pure Property Finance, predicts that the appetite for traditional, heritage-inspired interiors is set to surge once again. As…
Read More →
Breaking News

Reduced supply of homes to landlords selling up

2025 saw Westminster enact one of the biggest changes to England’s private rental sector in decades via the Renters’ Rights Act, and it has already triggered a mixed response from those working in the property industry alongside landlords. One of the biggest changes includes the retirement of section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. This is a move…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Letting Agent Talk

The Art of the Add-On: 5 Simple Ways Letting Agents Can Upsell in 2026

Letting agents are brilliant at delivering value, but not always brilliant at charging for it, according to Sally Lawson… Here are her five simple steps for charging for what you’re worth (and more) this year. “Far too many agents bundle services together, do the extra work, solve problems, take calls, fix issues. And they never…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove reaction to the Bank of England Base Rate decision

Matt Smith, Mortgage Expert at Rightmove, said: “Today’s decision to hold the Bank Rate was widely expected, and for most homeowners and home‑buyers, there’s no immediate change to worry about. For those looking to secure a new mortgage rate or coming up to remortgage, even small rises in rates can have a real impact on…
Read More →