More people in Bolton are renting and less people own their homes by use of a mortgage or loan than a decade ago.

Newly released Census data collected in 2021 across England and Wales shows that, of those who took part, 15.8 per cent of Boltonians were renting from a private landlord or letting agency – up from 12.5 per cent in 2011.

Those privately renting in other circumstances almost doubled, from 1.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent.

Separate figures from the Office for National Statistics and the Valuation Office Agency show that median private rent in the North West was £585 a month as of March 2021 – up 18.2 per cent from £495 in June 2011 – the earliest comparable figures.

These figures come as a housing campaign group calls on the government to come good on its promise of a better deal for private tenants.

READ MORE: 'No fault' eviction rise threatens more people with homelessness

Dan Wilson Craw, deputy director of the housing campaign Generation Rent, said these tenants are “paying high rents to private landlords, face a much greater risk of living in a poor-quality home, and live with the threat of eviction at short notice”.

He added that despite the government recognising the need for reforms in the sector – such as abolishing so-called "no-fault" evictions – it is yet introduce legislation to properly support private tenants.

The data revealed the trend for people who have secured a mortgage or loan in order to own their own property in Bolton has gone the other way.

In 2011, 33.3 per cent of homes in the borough were owned in this way, whereas in 2021 that figure was 28.3 per cent.

READ MORE: Bolton first time buyers still struggling for quality homes

This trend is repeated throughout the country.

Shelter, a charity that tackles homelessness, said the "only lasting solution" to the housing crisis is to build more social homes.

It pointed to a waiting list of more than a million households for social housing across England, saying that the social housing is lost every year to sales and demolitions.

Polly Neate, chief executive of the charity, said: “It’s time for the government to invest in a new generation of good quality social homes with genuinely affordable rents pegged to local incomes.”

READ MORE: Bolton is joint-third most deprived borough in region

A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling up, Housing, and Communities said: “Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for the government, that’s why we will deliver on our commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and introduce a Renters Reform Bill in this Parliament."

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.