The bar chart illustrates the proportion of households living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales over the period from 1918 to 2011.
Overall, there was a significant shift from renting to owning over the century, with the percentage of owned accommodation peaking around the turn of the millennium before declining slightly.
In 1918, rented accommodation accounted for the vast majority, at 77%, while owned accommodation stood at just 23%. By 1939, the proportion of owned homes had increased to 32%, with rented accommodation falling to 68%. This trend continued, and by 1953, ownership had risen to 42%, and by 1961 it had nearly reached parity at 49%, while renting dropped to 51%. In 1971, owned accommodation slightly exceeded renting, with 52% compared to 48%, marking the first time ownership was the majority.
The upward trajectory for owned accommodation continued, reaching 60% in 1981, while rented accommodation fell to 40%. The peak for owned accommodation was recorded in 2001 at 70%, with renting at 30%. However, by 2011, ownership had declined to 64%, while renting rose slightly to 36%, indicating a modest reversal in the long-term trend.