Private renters urged to take part in new survey to identify challenges.

Published: 1 February 2022

Derby City Council has partnered with Generation Rent, a national campaigning body for private renters, to launch a survey to identify the challenges faced by those living in the private rented sector.

The survey aims to uncover the concerns that renters may have about the security, comfort and safety of their tenancy. In order to reassure and encourage respondents to tell us about their experiences, responses will be anonymous and only shared with Generation Rent. All personal views or data provided during the survey will not be disclosed with the tenant’s landlord or any other third parties.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented and challenging event for many people living in Derby’s 28,000 privately rented homes, with many facing difficulties ranging from economic insecurity and job losses, to insecure and unsafe housing conditions. In many cases these issues have been present since before the pandemic. Evidence also suggests that poor quality housing disproportionately affects ethnic minority communities.

Everyone deserves access to a safe, secure, and affordable home, and Derby City Council are reaching out to private renters to find out more about the challenges that they face and how the council can better support them.

Cllr Roy Webb, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, said:

It is important that everyone has access to a safe and secure home, but also that they can have their concerns listened to. I would encourage all private renters to take this opportunity and share their experiences with us so that we can work to improve the sector here in Derby.

Alicia Kennedy, Director of Generation Rent added:

 We look forward to working with Derby City Council on this project. Renters, particularly marginalised renters, should be a central part of any changes to the private rented sector, yet their voices are often missing from the national debate. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the council to engage with private renters, help private renters share their experiences and create a space where they can have their say.

The consultation is now live for six weeks and can be completed on the Let’s Talk Derby consultation page on Derby City Council’s website. Paper version of the survey is also available at some libraries and community centres or by contacting the Council’s Housing Strategy Team by email.

Following the consultation, the Council and Generation Rent will work alongside private renters to set up focus groups to discuss their experiences.

This project is part of a larger nationwide project that has been launched by Generation Rent with funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Generation Rent is working with local authorities and communities to increase renters’ awareness of their rights and strengthen the voices of private tenants.

Consultation