Beyond Generation Rent: Understanding the Aspirations of Private Renters Aged 35-54, 2019

Much academic and popular attention has been paid to ‘Generation Rent’ – a growing group of young people who are trapped in the private rented sector (PRS) due to challenges in accessing other housing tenures. Yet much less is known about the experiences of older, middle-aged renters (MARs). This is a key gap given the recent growth of the sector. Once a housing tenure associated with students and young professionals the PRS is now increasingly housing a more diverse range of tenants including families with children. Yet renters over 35 remain a relatively understudied group by comparison. This study aims to address this gap in the evidence through qualitative enquiry. It is led by researchers from the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow as part of the activities of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (phase I).