Recommendation 21

However, the Department acknowledged gaps and limitations in its current data, and it is reliant on tenant representatives such as Shelter and Citizens Advice to understand tenant experiences.47 For example, it estimates that during the COVID-19 pandemic, over-crowding peaked at 15% of rented homes, double what it was in 2019–20. However, it does not have up-to-date data on how this is changing and does not know whether it will be a long-term effect.48 While the Department intends to improve its data, it has not identified what additional data sources it could use to monitor progress or measure the success of its planned reforms beyond those it can already access.49 The Department also lacks sufficient data on who may be vulnerable in the private rented sector and why, which makes it difficult to target interventions towards those who need the most protection.50