NEW research suggests that 84 per cent of tenants in the private rental sector are satisfied with their housing.

Statistics from the latest English Housing Survey compare the figures for the private rental sector with the 81 per cent satisfaction rate from tenants in the social rented sector.

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has said the survey acts to dispel negative myths peddled about the private rented sector.

And as a result, the RLA is challenging the government to put equal effort into recognising the good in the sector with regulation to mitigate the impact of rogue landlords.

The report also found that 72 per cent of private sector tenants are satisfied with the way that their landlord carries out repairs or maintenance. This is in contrast to the 66 per cent who said the same in the social rented sector.

RLA policy director David Smith, said the results go against the 'myths peddled' about the private rented sector which often imply that private landlords treat tenants unfairly.

He added that while there are undoubtedly rogue landlords in the sector, these are a small minority in comparison to the vast number of good investors who are happy to help their tenants, and provide a positive space for them to live.

"Whilst we should never be complacent, these results confound the myths that some have peddled about the private rented sector," Mr Smith said.

"It shows once again that the vast majority of private sector landlords do a good job and look after their properties and tenants properly.

"The government should recognise this and ensure policy supports the vast majority of landlords who are individuals to continue providing the good quality homes to rent we need whilst improving enforcement to root out the criminals who have no place in the market."

But satisfaction rates are just one element of the report.

It confirmed the private rental sector is growing and that across most age groups, the number of private renters has increased in the last 20 years, even where the proportion of private renters in that age group has not.

For example, the number of private renters aged 16 to 24 has increased from 365,000 to 513,000, even though the proportion has decreased from 18 per cent to 11 per cent.

Where the proportion of private renters has increased, the increase in numbers has been particularly pronounced.

There were more than three times as many 35 to 44 year olds renting privately in 2016-17 than 20 years ago: an increase from 331,000 households in 1996-97 to 1.1 million in 2016-17.

The government is currently consulting on longer tenancies following campaigning by the RLA for tax incentives for those who offer the longer terms which are particularly attractive to older tenants.