The number of over-65s renting rather than owning a home is rising, according to a government survey.

The English Housing Survey found that 461,000 over-65s lived in private rented households in 2024/25.

That is only 6% of the total 7.4 million homes where the main occupant is 65 or over, but the figure is growing quickly.

The number of private renters over the age of 65 has risen 6% from 433,000 in 2023/24 and by 24% from 2019/20, when it was 371,000.

The average weekly private rent was £250 for England and £393 in the capital.

The survey counts people in whose name the dwelling is owned or rented, or who is otherwise responsible for the property.

The number of over-65s renting was dwarfed by the proportion that own their home outright, which is also rising.

The survey found that 5.5 million people near or past retirement age owned their home in 2024/25, up from 5.4 million in 2023/24 and similarly an increase from 5.1 million five years ago.

The number of over-65s in social rented properties was relatively static. In 2024/25 the figure was 1.1 million, the same as the year before.

In 2024/25, 29% of people overall had a mortgage, 36% owned outright, 19% rented privately and 16% rented in the social sector.

The average weekly mortgage payment in England was £242 and £375 in London.