Department for Communities and Local Government

• Housing
• Housing research and statistics
• Housing surveys
• English Housing Survey (EHS)
• Frequently asked questions about the English Housing Survey

Housing

Frequently asked questions about the English Housing Survey

When did the Survey start?

Fieldwork for the Survey started in April 2008.

Why have we merged the previous housing surveys?

The English Housing Survey was launched in 2008 and brought together two previous surveys: The Survey of English Housing and The English House Condition Survey. As such the English Housing Survey allows us to offer a more integrated service to users and to make more effective and efficient use of resources. It has brought the two previous housing surveys together into a single data collection process, managed internally by a single project team, so that users' requests for housing survey information can be handled more effectively.

Who runs the Survey?

Following a competitive procurement exercise in 2011 under the EU Open Procedure, 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 - CA Designs, the Building Research Establishment and Bryson Purdon Social Research. NatCen Social Research will undertake the household interviews, and have responsibility for the sampling and weighting process working with Bryson Purdon Social Research. Miller Mitchell Burley Lane - CA Designs will recruit and manage the large surveyor field force undertaking the physical inspections. The Building Research Establishment are responsible for delivering training to the English Housing Survey surveyors, the data collection and validation of the physical survey data, and subsequent data modelling to deliver some of the key measures for analysis.

The Department for Communities and Local Government continues to commission and manage the project and is responsible for the content and design of the Survey and for analysing and disseminating results. The survey continues to be supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

How is the Survey conducted?

It operates on a continuous basis. All households in the sample receive an initial letter from NatCen Social Research inviting them to take part in the Survey. This is followed by a visit from one of their interviewers who provides background information about its content and purpose and, with the consent of the householder, conducts the interview. The Information for households selected for the Survey page includes copies of the letter to householders and other a downloadable information leaflet.

There are interviews with around 13,300 households a year and a follow up physical inspection of around 6,200 of these properties. The content of the visual inspection of the property continues largely unchanged from the previous English House Condition Survey.

What data is collected from householders?

Following consultation with users at the end of 2005 a new household interview questionnaire was developed for the English Housing Survey that brought together all the key information from the previous Survey of English Housing and English House Condition Survey. Some less critical information was dropped or is being collected less frequently through a rotating module every two or three years. The questionnaire content is reviewed annually and was rationalised in 2011-12. For example we are collecting data on fires in the home, and second homes on a rotating basis. Certain key descriptive information about each household member is collected at the start of the interview. The following topics are covered in most years:

• household composition, ethnicity, nationality, economic status, education and health
• household accommodation and length of residence
• housing history and aspirations
• rent and mortgage payments
• satisfaction with landlord/attitudes to neighbourhood
• income.

What data is collected about properties?

Around half those households interviewed are randomly selected to have a physical inspection undertaken of their home. An appointment is made at a time convenient to the respondent for a named surveyor to call. The content of this visual inspection has continued largely unchanged from the previous English House Condition Survey and involves an internal and external assessment of the property by a professional surveyor. The English Housing Survey continues to provide key measures relating to Decent Homes, energy efficiency, quality of local environments and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Property valuations are also collected so that information on local housing markets and householders' equity in their homes can be derived. As for the previous survey, information relating to stock condition, neighbourhood quality and energy efficiency is analysed annually based on a two year rolling sample.

How are the data used?

All information from the Survey is handled in strictest confidence. It is used to produce anonymous statistics for decision-making in government and for genuine research purposes only. No information which could be used to identify individual households is released outside the survey and contractor teams. For further details please see the Survey's data security strategy.

The government uses the aggregated results from the Survey to gain a better knowledge and understanding of housing and the issues affecting householders in England. In particular, data is used to:

• monitor the condition and energy efficiency of the housing stock
• help target policies and resources to where they are most needed.

How can I keep in touch with developments and findings from the Survey?

We issue a Bulletin to keep users informed about developments on the Survey and any remaining results and issues relating to the Survey of English Housing and English House Condition Survey. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please email: ehs@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

How are results being disseminated?

An annual Headline Report presents key findings each year on people's housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England.

More detailed Reports follow later each year. Public data sets are made available annually so that external users can undertake their own analysis.

What topics will the reports cover?

The reports give an overview of housing in England and detailed information on key policy areas such as: Decent Homes; disadvantage and living conditions; energy efficiency; overcrowding; household moves; and second homes.

What has happened to the Survey of English Housing and the English House Condition Survey?

These surveys no longer operate and the final results from these surveys have been published. Links to both are provided for information under 'On this site'.

What has happened to the website tables?

A new set of English Housing Survey tables has been developed to cover all the main topics of the former Surveys. No further data will now be added to the current Surveys' tables but these will remain on the website.

The final data on the English House Condition Survey tables was the 2007 data; the final data on the Survey of English Housing tables was the 2007-08 data. Look-up tables have been provided to help users identify how English Housing Survey tables relate to the previous Survey's tables.

Are time series being continued?

There will unfortunately be some disruption to time series but guidance is provided in the reports and technical documentation to indicate where time series have been affected.