Workers on average earnings priced out of rental housing market in East of England

Housing

Average rents for a two bedroom property rise to over a third of average pay in 14 east of England authorities new GMB study shows

Average rents for a two bedroom property rise to over a third of average pay in 14 East of England authorities new GMB study shows.

A massive programme to build more homes is absolutely essential and has to get underway without delay says GMB.

The average rents for two bedroom apartments has risen to more than a third of gross average earnings of residents in 14 East of England local authorities.

In Hertsmere the average rent for a two bedroom property is 48% of the gross average earnings of residents of the borough. This is the highest in the East of England.

Next highest are 45% in Three Rivers and Cambridge, 43% in Watford, 37% in Epping Forest, Welwyn Hatfield and Dacorum, 36% in Stevenage and Broxbourne and 35% in St Albans.

In the East of England as a whole, workers are paying out 28% of their earnings on rent, up from 25.5% in 2011. This is higher than the England average figure of 26%.

Set out in the table below are the 2016 figures for 40 local authorities where data are available with comparable figures for 2011 for a two bedroom property. Set out in notes to editors are the figures for a one and three bedroom properties.

The tables have been compiled by GMB London region, see notes to editors for sources and definitions.

Warren Kenny, GMB London regional secretary, said, “These figures demonstrate the extent of the squeeze felt by workers and their families in the East of England since the financial crisis in 2008. Rents have surged upwards as pay has been stagnant or falling.

They show that a massive programme to build more homes, especially homes for rent, by the East of England authorities is absolutely essential in all parts of the region and has to get underway without delay.

We have been talking about this problem for far too long, there can be no excuses for not providing housing to people that they can afford to live in on average wages.

The decisions of the Thatcher government in the 1980’s to sell council housing stock,  and not replace it, and to pay landlords housing benefit instead of providing social housing directly has been a huge and expensive mistake.

Last year, for example, £24 billion was spent on housing benefit, with much of this public money ending up untaxed in bank accounts in offshore tax havens. If a fraction of that amount had been spent on social housing for rent, the strain on the tax payer would be less and people would have housing they can afford to live in.

These mistakes need to be corrected without delay, fair and affordable housing is a basic aspiration for all.”

End

Contact: Warren Kenny on 07843 632394; Tony Warr 07710 631336; Richard O'Leary 07710 631347; Dave Powell 07710 631349 or Keith Williams 07710 631339

Notes to Editors

1 Source: Private Rental Market Summary Statistics; Valuation Office Agency © Crown copyright 2016.

The data is collected by the Valuation Office for the purpose of supporting the Local Housing Allowance – used to work out how much Housing Benefit is paid if renting from a private landlord.  This is the primary purpose of the data and as a result the samples from year to year can vary so the data provides a snapshot on the market rather than a comprehensive study of all prices. The data used to generate these statistics are based on a sample of rental information, collected by Rent Officers from landlords and letting agents.

One Bedroom self-contained properties with one bedroom including houses, bungalows, flats and maisonettes.

Two Bedrooms self-contained properties with two bedrooms including houses, bungalows, flats and maisonettes.

Three Bedrooms self-contained properties with three bedrooms including houses, bungalows, flats and maisonettes.

2 Earnings data is from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2011 and 2015, Office for National Statistics. Data is for gross median annual pay for all full time employees by place of residence.

3 Table showing proportion of median rent to median earnings of full-time workers for 1 and 3 bedroom properties