Examining trends in rents and yields within the UK residential investment market

Over the past century the private rented sector has witnessed considerable change, not least the reduction from representing 90% of the housing stock at the beginning of the 20th century, to only 10% at the end. Given this change it is hardly surprising that little data exists in modern times on the private rented sector relative to other sectors including the owner occupied market and those for commercial property. This may also explain the limited research undertaken in this sector. The recent rise in house prices in the UK has led to concerns over the ability of many income earners to be able to afford their own property. With Government figures also showing structural changes in the population over the next 15 years, with a significant increase in single person households, greater pressures will be placed on the housing stock with a likely trend towards an increase in renting compared to owner occupation within certain classes of society. This paper will draw on data for rents, yields and house prices together with key economic indicators in an attempt to identify key turning points and trends within the privately rented residential market, both at the macro level, but also within individual regions, in particular central London. By applying other sources of information consideration will be given to the reasons behind these changes and the implications this has for the future role for this sector within the UK housing market. Based on these initial findings the paper will set out an agenda for further investigations into the privately rented housing market in order to provide for a more comprehensive understanding of changes within the sector and the potential for modelling future trends.