English Housing Survey (EHS)

The English Housing Survey is a continuous national survey commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government that collects information about people's housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England.

English Housing Survey logo

In April 2008 the English House Condition Survey (EHCS) was integrated with the Survey of English Housing (SEH) resulting in a new survey known as the English Housing Survey (EHS).

The English Housing Survey has two component surveys: a household interview, followed by a physical inspection of a sub sample of the properties. For the latest results please see the Reports page.

Background

The English Housing Survey covers all housing tenures and provides valuable information and evidence to inform the development and monitoring of the department's housing policies. Results from it are also used by a wide range of other users including other government departments; local authorities; housing associations; landlords; academics; construction industry professionals; consultants; and the general public.

The interview survey is conducted with all householders in the sample (around 13,300 households per year). The physical survey involves a physical inspection by qualified surveyors of a subsample of around 6,200 properties per year. A periodic follow-up survey with private landlords is also undertaken to collect information on landlord experiences and attitudes, what type of landlord they are and why and how they became landlords.

The 2011-12 Survey is currently being conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The physical survey is conducted by Miller Mitchell Burley Lane working together with the Building Research Establishment. In December 2011, a new contract for the survey years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 was awarded to a consortium led by NatCen Social Research. This consortium includes Miller Mitchell Burley Lane, the Building Research Establishment and Bryson Purdon Social Research (BPSR).

News and Bulletins

News about latest survey developments and a free newsletter for our users is available on the News and Bulletins page. This also includes the latest Survey Bulletin as well as those of the previous housing surveys.

Reports

Each year initial results will be published in a Headline Report. This will be followed by two Annual Reports later each year - one relating to household trends and the other to the housing stock.

All published reports are available from the Reports section.

Tables

A set of English Housing Survey tables will be posted on the web site each year to supplement the Annual Reports. These tables will include some continuing time series tables from either the former Survey of English Housing or English House Condition Survey, where possible.

Information for Survey users

Detailed Information for Survey users is available to support users of the Survey's data. This includes detailed technical information on the survey methodology; how we engage with our wider user community; the Revisions Policy; the Dissemination Strategy; how we safeguard the confidentiality of the data and how users can access publicly available data sets or commission bespoke analysis.

Information for households selected for the Survey

Each year a sample of addresses is drawn at random from a list of private addresses held by the Royal Mail. Householders at these addresses are invited to take part in the Survey and will receive an initial letter from our contractor the Office for National Statistics.

If you have been invited to take part you may find the information provided in the Frequently asked questions section helpful in explaining why we conduct the Survey, what it will involve and why your involvement is so important to its success. We very much hope you will agree to take part. Our contact details are provided below if you would like more information. See also Information for households selected for the Survey.

Survey of users

We would like to hear from users of the English Housing Survey. We want to find out more about how our information is accessed and used, so that we can better meet your needs. Please complete the 10 questions in our short survey (external link).

Alternatively, please contact us at this email address ehs@communities.gov.uk and tell us briefly how you use the English Housing Survey, and how it has made a difference to your work.