We've completed our sixth pulse survey to gauge the feelings and sentiments of renters across the UK. Results from previous surveys are available here:

2024 Q3

2024 Q2
2024 Q1
2023 Q4
2023 Q3

This report analyses tenant sentiment data collected by Marks Out Of Tenancy for the past six quarters, focusing on key areas such as repairs and maintenance, security of tenure, financial security, mental health, and rent prices. The data spans from Q3 2023 to Q4 2024, offering insights into trends and shifts in tenant experiences and perceptions.

Repairs and Maintenance

Question: Have repairs and maintenance to your home by your landlord or letting agent over the last 3 months got better, stayed the same, or got worse?

Q3 2023: 55% Stayed the same, % Got worse, 8% Got better
Q4 2023: 59% Stayed the same, 33% Got worse, 8% Got better
Q1 2024: 64% Stayed the same, 31% Got worse, 6% Got better
Q2 2024: 61% Stayed the same, 29% Got worse, 10% Got better
Q3 2024: 55% Stayed the same, 27% Got worse, 19% Got better

Q4 2024: 66% Stayed the same, 23% Got worse, 9% Got better

Analysis: In Q4 of 2024, most respondents (approximately 65%) stated that repairs and maintenance "stayed the same," showing a noticeable rebound after a decline in earlier quarters. Around 20% of respondents felt that maintenance "got worse," continuing a slight but steady downward trend from previous quarters. Meanwhile, about 15% reported that repairs "got better," marking a consistent increase over the year. This suggests some improvements in repairs and maintenance services, though a significant majority experienced no change in their situation.

Security of Tenure

Question: Thinking about the right to remain in your property, over the last 3 months, with security of tenure in mind, do you feel more secure, the same, or less secure?

Q3 2023: 49% Stayed the same, 42% Less secure, 9% More secure
Q4 2023: 61% Stayed the same, 33% Less secure, 5% More secure
Q1 2024: 54% Stayed the same, 43% Less secure, 3% More secure
Q2 2024: 61% Stayed the same, 31% Less secure, 8% More secure
Q3 2024: 62% Stayed the same, 26% Less secure, 12% More secure

Q4 2024: 56% Stayed the same, 35% Less secure, 10% More secure

Analysis: In Q4 of 2024, the majority of respondents (approximately 55%) reported that their sense of security of tenure had "stayed the same," marking a decline from its peak earlier in the year. The percentage of those feeling "less secure" increased to around 35%, reflecting a steady rise throughout 2024. Meanwhile, the proportion of respondents who felt "more secure" remained relatively low but showed a modest increase, reaching about 10% by the end of the year. These trends highlight growing concerns about tenure security, with more renters experiencing insecurity despite some small improvements in perception among a minority.

Financial Security

Question: Over the last 3 months, thinking about your financial security, has it improved, stayed the same, or got worse?

Q3 2023: 52% Got worse, 34% Stayed the same, 14% Improved
Q4 2023: 52% Got worse, 40% Stayed the same, 8% Improved
Q1 2024: 52% Got worse, 38% Stayed the same, 10% Improved
Q2 2024: 52% Got worse, 37% Stayed the same, 12% Improved
Q3 2024: 46% Got worse, 41% Stayed the same, 14% Improved

Q4 2024: 39% Got worse, 44% Stayed the same, 19% Improved

Analysis: In Q4 of 2024, financial security showed significant changes among renters. The percentage of respondents reporting that their financial security "got worse" dropped to around 40%, continuing a downward trend from earlier in the year. Meanwhile, those who said their financial security "stayed the same" increased to roughly 45%, making it the most common response by the end of the year. The percentage of respondents who reported an "improvement" in financial security reached about 15%, reflecting a steady but modest rise throughout 2024. These shifts suggest a positive trend, with fewer renters feeling a decline in financial security and a gradual increase in stability or improvement.

Mental Health

Question: How has the relationship with your landlord and the condition of your rental property impacted your mental health over the last 3 months? Improved, stayed the same, or got worse?

Q3 2023: 47% Got worse, 47% Stayed the same, 6% Improved
Q4 2023: 48% Got worse, 45% Stayed the same, 6% Improved
Q1 2024: 46% Got worse, 46% Stayed the same, 9% Improved
Q2 2024: 35% Got worse, 58% Stayed the same, 8% Improved
Q3 2024: 42% Got worse, 55% Stayed the same, 8% Improved

Q4 2024: 42% Got worse, 50% Stayed the same, 9% Improved

Analysis: In Q4 of 2024, the majority of respondents (approximately 55%) reported that their mental health had "stayed the same" as a result of their relationship with their landlord and the condition of their rental property. This figure shows a slight decline from its peak earlier in the year. Around 35% stated that their mental health "got worse," indicating a steady increase in this category throughout the year. Only about 10% reported an "improvement" in their mental health, a trend that remained consistent over the quarters. These results highlight growing concerns among renters regarding negative impacts on mental health while improvements remain limited.

Rent Prices

Question: In the last 3 months, has your rent increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

Q4 2023: 37% Increased, 63% Stayed the same, 0% Decreased
Q1 2024: 40% Increased, 60% Stayed the same, 1% Decreased
Q2 2024: 40% Increased, 58% Stayed the same, 2% Decreased
Q3 2024: 35% Increased, 63% Stayed the same, 2% Decreased

Q4 2024: 31% Increased, 67% Stayed the same, 1% Decreased

Analysis: In Q4 of 2024, the majority of respondents indicated that their rent had "stayed the same," with this category showing a clear upward trend over the year, reaching approximately 65%. The percentage of respondents reporting that their rent had "increased" dropped slightly compared to previous quarters, sitting at around 30%. Meanwhile, the proportion of respondents experiencing a "decrease" in rent remained consistently low throughout the year, staying below 5%. These figures suggest a stabilizing trend in rent prices for most renters by the end of 2024, with fewer reporting increases and the vast majority seeing no changes.

Analysis:

The data from the Marks Out Of Tenancy Renters Pulse Survey for Q4 2024 highlights key trends in renters' experiences across various aspects of tenancy. Rent prices continued to rise, with a majority of respondents reporting increases, while fewer tenants saw their rent remain stable. Mental health impacts from rental conditions showed a slight improvement, with fewer renters reporting worsening conditions compared to earlier in the year. Financial security exhibited a positive shift, as fewer renters felt worse off and more reported stability or improvement. However, security of tenure remained a concern, with an increasing number of tenants feeling less secure in their housing situation. Repairs and maintenance saw a rebound in stability, with more renters reporting that conditions remained the same or improved, although a segment still experienced worsening conditions. Overall, the data suggests a mix of stability and growing concerns, particularly in affordability and tenure security, while some areas like financial security and maintenance showed slight positive trends.