More than seven in 10 tenants in England say they are happy with their renting experience, with satisfaction highest where landlords live closer to their properties, new research from Pepper Money suggests.

The study found that 74% of tenants describe themselves as happy with their current renting experience, while 11% say they are unhappy.

Happiness levels were consistently strong across England. Tenants in the South East and South West reported the highest levels of satisfaction at 78%, followed by the West Midlands and East Midlands at 74%. London and Yorkshire and the Humber both recorded 73%, with the North West, East of England and North East each at 72%.

While the regional split shows relatively modest variation, the data points to a clearer distinction when landlord proximity is taken into account.

Across England, 77% of tenants whose landlord lives within 40 miles of the rental property said they were happy with their experience. That figure falls to 71% among those whose landlord lives more than 50 miles away.

The highest satisfaction rate was recorded among tenants whose landlord lives between 31 and 40 miles away, at 80%. Those whose landlord lives between six and 20 miles away reported 79% satisfaction, while tenants within five miles recorded 77%.

For distances between 21 and 30 miles, happiness stood at 71%, and for 41 to 50 miles it was 75%. The proximity data is based on respondents who knew how far away their landlord lived, representing a sample of 1,838 tenants.

The findings suggest a link between local landlord presence and tenant experience, particularly in areas such as responsiveness, maintenance and day-to-day communication.

The research comes at a time when renting continues to be seen as part of a longer-term housing journey. A separate study by Pepper Money found that 69% of renters want to buy their own home in the future, with 29% expecting to be in a financial position to do so within the next three years.

Paul Adams, sales director at Pepper Money, said: “At a time when the UK is facing a chronic undersupply of housing, private landlords continue to play a vital role in bringing much-needed homes to the rental market.

“It is encouraging to see that most tenants report positive renting experiences, particularly where landlords remain closely involved with their properties.

“Our research shows that when landlords are engaged and responsive, tenants feel the benefit directly through well-maintained homes, quicker repairs and a greater sense of stability and trust, all of which help sustain a functioning rental sector.

“Recognising the pressures landlords face in continuing to provide homes in a challenging market, brokers have a crucial role to play in helping them navigate ongoing regulatory change and rising complexity.

“By offering informed guidance on compliance, affordability and long-term portfolio planning, brokers can help landlords adapt with confidence rather than retreat from the market altogether.

“At a time when stability in the private rented sector is essential to addressing ongoing undersupply, this advisory support is key to ensuring landlords remain engaged, informed and able to continue providing much-needed rental homes.”