Research and analysis

British Social Attitudes 2023: Public attitudes to housing

Published 27 November 2025

Applies to England

Foreword

This report presents the results of the 2021 and 2023 ‘British Social Attitudes to Housing’ module, which explores attitudes towards the building of new homes, the energy efficiency of new homes, and housing aspirations of people in England. The data improves our understanding of attitudes to housing across England, which is of particular importance given the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) long-term housing priorities and its commitment to building 1.5 million homes over the course of this parliament.

Over previous years, MHCLG have funded NatCen to include a housing module within the British Social Attitudes survey and have several reports on this module between 2018 and 2010. This shorter report builds upon previous publications, using data from both 2021 and 2023.

I would like to thank the following people and organisations without whom the British Social Attitudes Survey and this report would not have been possible; all the households who gave up their time to take part in the survey, the British Social Attitudes team at NatCen Social Research and the Housing, Evidence, Research and Surveys Team in MHCLG.

Stephen Aldridge, Chief Economist and Director for Analysis and Data

Introduction

This report examines public attitudes to housing using the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey data from 2021 and 2023. The BSA survey measures the extent to which the attitudes, values and beliefs of the British public change over time. The last time a report on this data was published was in 2018, this report uses new data from 2021 and 2023.     

The British Social Attitudes survey has been run annually by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) since 1983^{[footnote 1]}. A variety of funders, including government departments, grant-giving bodies, other foundations and universities support the survey, enabling it to cover a wide range of social, economic, political and moral issues. Questions are designed to be relevant to policy debates but also to be repeated at regular intervals.

Methodology

The British Social Attitudes survey has traditionally been carried out as a face-to-face survey with respondents aged 18 or over living in households in Great Britain. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has commissioned NatCen to include a module of questions in the BSA related to housing in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021 and most recently in 2023. These modules aim to obtain new information and, for some themes, establish trends on key areas of interest to the department. Previous reports are available online.

In 2020, due to restrictions on fieldwork related to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements, the mode of data collection changed from face-to-face interviews to online surveys. Changing the way in which a survey is conducted brings a risk of both selection and measurement effects. Selection effects are a form of non-response bias that arise because different ways of collecting data have different coverage and response rates, meaning that the profile of people who complete a survey in one mode may differ from the profile of people who complete the survey in another mode. Measurement effects arise because people may answer the same question in different ways. As such, it is possible that differences between the estimates obtained by the BSA during and post-pandemic in 2020, 2021 and 2023 and those of earlier years could be a consequence of the change of methodology rather than a true change in attitudes.

Therefore, we would advise caution when directly comparing questions asked in 2018 or earlier with the same questions asked in 2020, 2021 and 2023. You can find out more about the change to methodology on the NatCen website.

While the British Social Attitudes survey covers England, Scotland and Wales, this report presents data for England only, aligning with MHCLG’s English Housing Survey. Fieldwork was carried out in September and October 2023.

This report will cover attitudes towards the building of new homes, attitudes towards new build houses, attitudes towards the energy efficiency of new homes and attitudes towards tenures and the local area.

Main findings

• Around 2 in 5 (40%) of respondents supported more homes being built in their local area, an increase compared to 2021 (33%), but still significantly lower than in 2018 (57%).
• In 2023, private renters (52%) and social renters (50%) were more likely to report that they would support new homes being built in their local area, compared to owner occupiers (34%).
• The proportion of respondents who reported they were likely to consider buying a new build home remained stable between 2023 (29%) and 2021 (29%) but has decreased when compared to 2018 (39%).
• In 2023, just over half of respondents (53%) reported they would be willing to pay more for a new build house that was built to use less energy. However, this is a slight decrease on the 56% who said they would in 2021.
• Nine in ten (90%) respondents, when asked whether they would prefer to buy or rent if given free choice, said they would prefer to buy. This is an increase when compared to 2018 (87%), 2017 (88%) and 2010 (86%).

1. Attitudes towards building new homes

The British Social Attitudes survey asked people about their attitudes towards more housing being built in their local area. This chapter explores respondents’ opinions towards more houses being built in their local area, compared against previous years, and explores how this differs across demographics.

In 2023, 40% of respondents said they supported more homes being built in the local area, an increase on the 33% who supported in 2021, but still significantly lower than in 2018 (57%). A similar proportion of people said they opposed more homes being built in their local area in 2023 (30%), compared to 2021 (32%). Annex Table 1.1. Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1: Support and opposition to more homes being built in the local area, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 1.1
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Support for more homes being built in the local area was highest amongst private (52%) and social renters (50%), with those in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and Social Rented Sector (SRS) more likely to support new homes than oppose (PRS: 18%, SRS: 24%). The same was not true for owner occupiers, where equal numbers of people supported (34%) and opposed (35%) more homes being built in the local area. Annex Table 1.2.

Respondents in London, were the most likely to support more homes being built in the local area (47%), compared to those outside of London (38%).

Respondents who were retired, were significantly more likely to oppose more homes being built in their local area (35%) compared to most other employment statuses. Additionally, opposition towards new homes being built generally increased with age, with respondents aged 18-25 being the least likely to say they opposed new homes being built in their local area (19%) compared to older age bands. Around 43% of respondents who lived in a country village said they would oppose more homes being built in their local area, compared to those in more urban areas (a big city: 23%, the suburbs or outskirt of a big city: 29% and a small city or town: 32%), Annex Table 1.2.

Respondents who were not supportive of more homes being built in the local area were asked what conditions would make them support more homes, with the most common answers being the building of more medical facilities or the improvement of existing ones (41%). Around 33% of respondents also selected the improvement of transport links (33%) as an advantage that would make them support more homes. Annex Table 1.3. Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2: Perceived advantages that would make someone support homes being built in the local area, 2023

^{Base: respondents who reported they would ‘oppose strongly’, ‘oppose’ or ‘neither support nor oppose’ more homes being built in the local area
Notes:
1) respondents could choose up to three responses
2) underlying data are presented in Annex Table 1.3
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}                                                                                            

A respondent’s current housing tenure was associated with what would encourage them to support more homes being built in the local area. Around 45% of owner occupiers said that the building or improvement of medical facilities would be an advantage that would convince them to support the building of new homes in their local area, a greater proportion than private renters (26%) and social renters (32%). Social renters (43%) and private renters (36%) were the most likely to say that more affordable homes to rent would be an advantage that would convince them to support more homes being built in the local area, Annex Table 1.3.

Respondents who were not supportive of more homes being built in the local area were asked whether they would actively oppose new homes being built in the local area, for example, submitting a formal objection, writing to your local councillor or attending a planning meeting to object.

The likelihood of people reporting they would actively oppose new housing developments has remained stable since 2018, although it has decreased overall since 2014, Figure 1.3.

In 2023, among those who were not supportive of new homes being built in their local area, 30% said they were likely to actively oppose new developments and 36% said they were unlikely to, Annex Table 1.4.

Figure 1.3: Likelihood of actively opposing new homes being built in the local area, 2014, 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: respondents who reported they would ‘oppose strongly’, ‘oppose’ or ‘neither support nor oppose’ more homes being built in the local area
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 1.4
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Owners were most likely to say that they would actively oppose new housing developments at 35%, compared to 16% of private renters and 18% of social renters. Respondents outside of London were more likely to actively oppose new housing developments (31%) compared to respondents in London (24%). Following similar trends, respondents aged 66 and over were the most likely to say they would actively oppose new housing developments (41%) compared to younger age bands. Those who had no children in the home were also more likely to say they would actively oppose new housing developments (32%) when compared to respondents with children in the household (25%), Annex Table 1.5.

Respondents who were not supportive of more homes being built in the local area were asked whether they would be supportive if renting or buying these homes was prioritised to people already living locally, or with local connections. Around 34% of all households said they would be supportive if homes were prioritised to people living locally, and 20% said they would still oppose, Annex Table 1.6.

Respondents were asked to pick one factor that should be treated as a priority in deciding who should be allocated social housing. The most common answers were ‘Being homeless’ (31%), ‘not being able to afford to rent or buy independently’ (13%) and being ‘at risk of harassment or abuse in current home’ (12%). ‘Being homeless’ was the most common answer across all tenures, Annex Table 1.7, Figure 1.4.

Figure 1.4: Factors that should be treated as a priority when deciding who should be allocated social housing, 2023

^{Notes:
1) respondents were asked to select only one answer
2) underlying data are presented in Annex Table 1.7
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

2. Attitudes towards new builds

This chapter explores the public’s attitudes to new build homes, looking at how it changes over time as well as at tenure and demographic breakdowns.

The proportion of people who reported they were likely to consider buying a new build home remained stable between 2023 (29%) and 2021 (29%) but has apparently decreased when compared to 2018 (39%), Annex Table 2.1, Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Likelihood of considering buying a new build home, 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 2.1
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Around 33% of people who lived in London, reported saying they would consider buying a new build home, compared to 28% of those outside of London. Annex Table 2.2.

Respondents were asked the type of homes they would most like to see built in their area. In 2023, 58% of respondents said they would like to see homes to buy compared to 31% of respondents who would like to see homes to rent. This is significantly different to 2021 where 68% of respondents said they would like to see homes to buy compared to 24% that said they would like to see homes to rent. Annex Table 2.3.

Across tenure, owner occupiers were significantly more likely to say they would like to see homes to buy (67%) compared to private renters (52%) and social renters (26%). The majority of social renters wanted to see homes to rent from local councils or housing associations (63%). Most private renters also wanted to see homes to rent from local councils or housing associations (33%) or equally homes available to buy on the open market (30%).

Similar proportions of the youngest and oldest age bands wanted to see more homes to rent with around 37% of those aged 66 and over saying they wanted to see more homes to rent, similar to 32% of 18–25-year-olds. Those in London were more likely to want to see houses to rent (39%) compared to those outside of London (30%). Annex Table 2.4.

Respondents were asked to what extent they felt new build homes tended to be well built or badly built these days.

Around 21% of people in 2023 thought new builds tended to be well built, consistent with 2021 (22%), but significantly less than in 2018 (36%).  In comparison, in 2023 around 45% of people thought new builds were badly built, the same as in 2021 (45%) but significantly more than in 2018 (30%), Annex Table 2.5, Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2: Extent to which new build homes are well built, 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 2.5
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Owner occupiers (47%) were significantly more likely to think new builds were badly built than social renters (40%). Those who live in London (26%) were more likely than those outside of London (20%) to think new build homes are well built, Annex Table 2.6.

Similar to 2021, in 2023 8% of people thought new builds were cheaper to buy than older homes and 61% thought that they were more expensive. Around 29% said that they thought they were neither cheaper nor more expensive. This was similar to 2021 but significantly different to 2018 where 14% of people stated they thought new builds were cheaper and 55% thought they were more expensive, Annex Table 2.7, Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3: Are new build homes cheaper or more expensive to buy than older homes in the local area? 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 2.7
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

In 2023, 62% of owner occupiers thought new builds were cheaper than older homes in their local area. In addition, 58% of private renters thought new builds were cheaper, as well as 62% of social renters, Annex Table 2.8.

In 2023, 57% of respondents thought new build homes were cheaper to heat when compared to older homes and 26% thought they were neither cheaper nor more expensive. Compared to 2021, the proportion of respondents who thought new builds were cheaper to heat remained the same, however the number who thought they were more expensive to heat increased over time, from 12% in 2021 to 15% in 2023, Annex Table 2.9, Figure 2.4.

Figure 2.4: Extent to which new build homes are cheaper to heat than older homes, 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 2.9
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Owner occupiers were the most likely to think the cost of heating new homes is cheaper than for older homes (65%), compared to private renters (46%) and social renters (37%). Annex Table 2.10.

Older respondents were more likely to think heating a new build is cheaper than an older property with those aged 56-65 (68%) and 66 or older (66%) the most likely to think this compared to younger respondents. Those with no children in the household were also more likely to think heating a new build is cheaper than an older property compared to those with children (61% vs 48%). 

When looked at regionally, respondents who lived outside of London were more likely to think that heating a new build is cheaper than an older property (58%) compared to those in London (53%).

Participants were asked if your local council was asking residents to express their views on new housing to be built in your area, how likely or unlikely would you be to give your views.

In 2023, there was a decrease in the proportion of respondents who were likely to say they would give their views, with 53% saying they likely would, compared to 63% in 2021. In 2023, 20% of respondents said it was unlikely they would give their views to the local council compared with 14% in 2021, Annex Table 2.11, Figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5: Likelihood of taking part in a consultation, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 2.11
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Owner occupiers (59%) were more likely than social and private renters (both 44%) to say they would be likely to give their views on new housing being built in the local area.

Typically, those aged over 66, were more likely to say they would give their views on new housing being built in the local area, when compared to other ages. Around 66% of those aged 66 and over said they would give their views, compared to 33% of those aged 18-25 and 42% of those aged 26-35.

The highest earners, those who earned more than £4351 a month, were the most likely to say they would give their views on new housing (60%). Additionally, those without children were more likely to say they would give their views (56%) compared to those with children in the household (46%), Annex Table 2.12.

3. Attitudes towards energy efficiency of homes

This chapter explores respondents’ attitudes towards the energy efficiency of their homes and the cost of making a new home energy efficient.

In 2023, 53% of respondents said they would be willing to pay more for a new build house that was built to use less energy, a decrease on the 56% that said they would in 2021. Around 15% of respondents said they would be unwilling to pay more and 32% said they would be neither willing nor unwilling, Annex Table 3.1, Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1: Willingness to pay more for new energy-efficient homes, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 3.1
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Similarly, owner occupiers and private renters were significantly more likely to say they were willing to pay more for a new build house that was built to use less energy (56% and 52% respectively) when compared to social renters (42%). Annex Table 3.2.

Regionally, when compared to the rest of England (51%), those in London (61%) were significantly more likely to say they would pay more for an energy efficient home. Additionally, 55% of those with no children in the household said they would be willing to pay more for a new build house, built to use less energy, when compared to 47% of those with children, Annex Table 3.2.

Those who were in full time education or training (64%) and those who were retired (57%) were the most likely to say they were willing to pay more for a new build house, built to use less energy than those with other employment statuses. As would be expected, the highest earners (those who reported earning £4,351 or more per month) were more likely to say they were willing to pay more for a new build house (66%) when compared to other household incomes.

Around 40% of respondents said that they would support regulations for existing buildings that would require households to make changes to their homes to meet new building regulations to make their homes more energy efficient and safe. This is a significant decrease when compared to 2021, where 47% of respondents said they would support this. In 2023, 25% of people said they would oppose this, higher than 20% in 2021, and 34% said they would neither support nor oppose. Annex Table 3.3, Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2: Support or opposition for extending energy efficiency regulations to existing buildings, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 3.3
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Respondents were asked whether they would support requiring people in existing buildings making changes to their homes, in order to make then safer or more energy efficient. Around 38% of owner occupiers said they would support this, a lower proportion than the 47% of private renters who said they would. Around 41% of social renters said they would support requiring people in existing buildings to make changes to their home to make them more energy efficient or safe, Annex Table 3.4. 

Those in London (51%) were significantly more likely than those outside of London (38%) to support requiring people to make changes to their homes to make them more energy efficient and safe. Respondents who were in full time education or training were around 10 percentage points more likely than those who were retired to support requiring people to change their homes, at 45% and 35% respectively. Annex Table 3.4.

In 2023, when respondents were asked what would most encourage them to make their home more energy efficient, the most common answer was saving money on gas and electricity bills (72%). This was more than those who said the same in 2021, where 64% said that saving money on gas and electricity bills would encourage them to make their home more energy efficient. However, it was still the most common answer across both years. Annex Table 3.5. It is notable that, in the years between the 2021 and 2023 survey, the cost of energy substantially increased, as shown in the quarterly energy price index.

Across all tenures, respondents were equally likely to report that saving money on gas and electricity bills was the common answer, when asked what would encourage you to make your home energy efficient (71-78%). Annex Table 3.6.

In 2023, when asked ‘How willing or unwilling would you be to spend money to improve the energy efficiency of your home?’, 48% of people said they would be willing to spend money to improve the energy efficiency of their home, compared to 14% of people who said they were unwilling, Annex Table 3.7, Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3: Willingness to spend money to improve energy efficiency of homes, 2023  

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 3.7
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Around 58% of owner occupiers reported being willing to spend money to improve the energy efficiency of their home, higher than 28% of private renters and 25% of social renters. However, just over a third of both private (36%) and social renters (34%) said they were unable to improve the energy efficiency of their home as they were renters, Annex Table 3.8

Those who were older, were generally more likely to be willing to spend money to improve the energy efficiency of their home. Around 53% of those aged 46-55 were willing to spend money to improve the energy efficiency of their home compared to 44% of 26–35 year olds and 31% of 18–25 year olds.

Those who had a higher income were also more likely to say they would spend money to improve the energy efficiency of their home, with 62% of those whose income was more than £4,351 per month saying they would spend money, compared to 33% of those whose income was less than £1,411 a month and 41% of those whose income was between £1,411 and £2,560 a month, Annex Table 3.8.

4. Attitudes towards tenures and local areas

This chapter explores people’s attitudes towards different tenures as well as to their local areas.

In 2023, when asked whether they would prefer to buy or rent if given free choice, most people said they would prefer to buy (90%). This was similar to 2021, where 92% said they would prefer to buy, but an increase when compared to 2018 (87%), 2017 (88%) and 2010 (86%). In 2023, 9% of people said they would prefer to rent, similar to 2021 (8%), Annex Table 4.1, Figure 4.1.

Figure 4.1: Preferences for renting or buying, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 4.1
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Across tenures, participants expressed a preference for the owner occupier sector, over renting.  Owner occupiers were the most likely to choose to buy (97%), followed by private renters (86%) and social renters (71%). As is expected, owner occupiers were the least likely to choose to rent (3%), followed by current private renters (13%). Social renters were the most likely to choose to rent at 28% (Local Authority: 26% and Housing Association: 31%), Annex Table 4.2.

It is evident that certain demographics of people appreciate the flexibility of renting when compared to choosing to buy. Those in London were significantly more likely to express a preference for renting (11%) compared to those outside of London (8%). Respondents aged 18-25 were also more likely to express a preference for renting (18%) compared to other age ranges.

People who were retired (7%) or those in work or waiting to take up work (6%) were the least likely to express a preference for renting compared to those who are unemployed (21%) or in full-time education or training (19%), Annex Table 4.2.

In 2023, when asked ‘Over the next ten years, how do you expect house prices to change in your area?’, the majority of respondents (75%) expected them to increase, less than the 84% who gave the same response in 2021. Around 14% said they expected them to remain stable and around 9% of respondents said they expected them to decrease, a significant increase on the 5% that said the same in 2021, Annex Table 4.3 Figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2: Expectation that house prices will change, 2021 and 2023

^{Base: all respondents
Note: underlying data are presented in Annex Table 4.3
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 2023}

Owner occupiers were more likely to think that house prices would remain stable (15%) compared to private renters (11%). Those without children in the household were more likely to think that house prices would increase (77%) compared to those with children (72%), Annex Table 4.4.

1. Apart from in 1988 and 1992 when its core funding was used to fund the British Election Study series. ↩