Around 84% of private sector tenants are now satisfied with their housing according to official data just released in the 2012-13 English Housing Survey ‘Households Report’.

This is a 1% increase in the proportion of tenants either very or fairly satisfied with their accommodation in the private rented sector compared with the 2011-12 report.

The data also shows rents in the sector falling in real terms. In the five year period between 2008-09 and 2012-13, average weekly rents in the private rented sector increased by £10 from £153 to £163. This is an increase of 7%, significantly below both measurements of inflation.

In contrast, 81% of social rented sector tenants expressed satisfaction with their accommodation, a figure that has remained the same compared to 2011-12. Furthermore, between 2008-09 and 2012-13, rents in the social sector have increased by over 25%.

Commenting on the findings, Chris Town, vice chairman at the Residential Landlords Association said: “Over the past few weeks and months landlords have become an easy target for those with ideological objections to the private rented sector.

“What matters in the end is how satisfied tenants are and these figures show rising rates of tenant satisfaction with their accommodation. This is good news and the RLA challenges others to acknowledge this.”