67% of the 21.6 million households in England in 2009-10 were owner-occupiers, 17% were social renters, and 16% were private renters, according to the latest English Housing Survey (EHS) Household Report 2009-10.

The survey, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) also found that owner-occupation declined from 14.8 million (71%) in 2005 to 14.5 million (67% ) in 2009-10.

The average weekly rent in 2009-10 was £156 for private renters, compared with £75 for social renters, while 33% of private renters had lived in their home for less than a year, compared to 2% of owner-occupiers and 8% of social renters.

An estimated 630,000 households (2.9%) were overcrowded, with over a third of these households (237,000) living in London (7.8% of London households). Some 7.9 million households (37% of all) were under-occupying their accommodation.

Only 4% of owner occupiers were recent first time buyers (bought within the previous three years), with the majority of these (61%) being aged between 25 and 34.

68% of new households formed in 2008-09 and 2009-10 were living in the private rented sector.

The EHS began in April 2008 bringing together two former DCLG housing surveys – the English House Condition Survey and the Survey of English Housing.