The chart below shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.
The bar chart illustrates the proportion of households in England and Wales living in rented and owned accommodation from 1918 to 2011.
In summary, there was a notable shift from rented to owned housing over the period. Initially, the majority of households were in rented accommodation, but this trend reversed over time, with ownership becoming predominant.
In 1918, a significant majority, over three-quarters, of families resided in rented homes. However, this proportion began to decrease steadily, and home ownership rose gradually. By 1971, the rates of owning and renting had equalized at around 50% each.
The period from 1939 to 1953 showed little variation, with ownership and renting levels remaining stable. Post-1971, the pattern shifted more distinctly, with ownership rates climbing sharply as rental rates fell.
By 2011, home ownership had almost tripled compared to 1918, with nearly 65% of households owning homes. Rental rates, conversely, dropped to approximately 35%, illustrating a significant reversal in preferences over the century.