Over the last 10 years the UK has seen a significant increase in the number of properties within the private rental sector, which now stands at over 35% of rental housing stock. Whilst there has been an increase in private rental housing there has also been a significant reduction in the number of tenants in arrears with their rent. For example investigation into rental arrears between 1993 and 2003 identified the following reductions for private and social sector rental tenants:

• Social sector tenants in arrears reduced from 17% to 12%
• Private sector tenants in arrears with rent reduced from 9% to 6%