Tenants are more satisfied with private rented accommodation than those in the social rented sector, according to the recently published 2015/16 English Housing Survey.

The survey results show that 82% of private sector tenants are satisfied with their current accommodation, ahead of the 81% who said the same about the social sector. Rates of dissatisfaction were also higher in the social sector, with 13% of tenants dissatisfied with their accommodation compared to just 10% in the private rented sector.

With the average length a private sector tenant has been in their property now over four years, the survey bursts the myth peddled by some that tenants should be living in fear of eviction.

According to the statistics, 73% of tenants in the sector left their last property because they wanted to, with just 11% doing so because they were asked to by a landlord or an agent. Meanwhile, just 2% of tenants moved because of rent increases by their landlord.

RLA chairman, Alan Ward, commented: “Whilst (this) data clearly shows that many challenges remain for the sector, it is clear that the picture is one of significant improvement. With only a very small minority of tenancies ended by a landlord or because of increased rent, it is time that those who suggest that landlords spend their time looking for ways to evict tenants or make profits at their expense replaced fearmongering with facts.”