Unveiling the Secrets of Leeds’s Housing Market: Insights from the 2021 Census

The property market is one of the most important economic indicators, as it can significantly impact the prosperity of both the local and national economy.

Recently, new data from the Census 2021 has become available that sheds light on seldom discussed areas of property, such as the types of properties Leeds has, together with how we live in and use our homes.

This data could be of interest to all Leeds people. However, it should be fascinating to Leeds homeowners and landlords, as it can help them make informed future decisions about buying, selling and renting property.

Furthermore, comparing the data to the national statistics can provide a broader perspective and a better understanding of how we live in our homes in Leeds.

In this report, I will analyse seven measurements from the new Census data to assess the city's housing stock and provide valuable insights for potential buyers and sellers.

The seven metrics I have selected provide essential information about the city's demographics, housing types, and tenure.

1. Population and households of Leeds.

Knowing the population of a city is essential for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it helps us understand the demographic makeup of Leeds. This information is crucial for local authority officials and businesses as they decide where to allocate resources and how to serve the community's needs (like whether we need to build more new homes, for example).

Looking at demographics allows for better long-term planning and development (and for savvy buy-to-let Leeds investors to spot opportunities years in advance). Additionally, population data can help identify trends and changes in the community over time (I will revisit this in future articles where I will discuss the growth of Leeds over the last few decades and what that means for the property market and long-term house prices). Finally, having accurate population figures is necessary for allocating government funding and resources, making it critical for our city's overall health and well-being.

The population of Leeds currently stands at 536,300 in 221,800 households.

2. The Age Profile of those who live in Leeds

The age profile of a city's population provides valuable insights into the local property market. For example, suppose the city has a large population of retirees. In that case, it is more likely to have a higher demand for bungalows or sheltered accommodation. In comparison, a city with a large student population may have more demand for shared accommodation. Knowing the age profile of the city's population is crucial for targeting the right buyers and understanding the potential market for different types of properties.

12.8% of Leeds's population is 65 years and over, compared to the national average of 18.4%.

Again, I will delve into this in more detail in my articles on the Leeds property market in the coming months.

3. Leeds household composition - one-person households vs family households.

Understanding household composition is crucial for predicting the demand for different properties. For example, if the city has a large population of single people, there may be more demand for one-bedroom apartments or studios. However, if the city has many families, there may be more demand for three or four-bedroom houses and schools.

34.4% of Leeds households are one-person households (compared to 30.2% nationally), and 56.2% of Leeds households are single-family households (compared to 63.0% nationally).

The remainder is made up of shared accommodation etc.

4. Leeds accommodation types - house or apartment.

Knowing the accommodation type is critical in understanding the local property market's demand and supply. For example, if the city has many apartments, it may indicate that the city has a higher demand for properties with lower maintenance costs or land is too expensive to build houses on. Conversely, if the city has a higher than the national (or regional) average number of houses, it may indicate that it has more families looking for larger properties.

72.0% of the homes in Leeds are houses (compared to the national average of 77.9%).

5. Number of bedrooms in Leeds.

The number of bedrooms is another crucial factor that affects the local property market. Knowing the average number of bedrooms in the city can help predict the demand for different property types. For example, if the city has many four or five-bedroom properties, it has more affluent buyers looking for larger properties.

• 14.9% of Leeds homes are one-bed households (11.4% nationally)
• 31.0% of Leeds homes are two-bed households (27.1% nationally)
• 35.9% of Leeds homes are three-bed households (40.4% nationally)
• 18.1% of Leeds homes are four-bed or more households (21.1% nationally)

6. Occupancy rating for Leeds bedrooms - whether a property is under-occupied or overcrowded.

Knowing the occupancy rating for bedrooms is critical in understanding the local property market's demand and supply. For example, if the city has many under-occupied properties, it could indicate people living in homes too big for their daily needs.

29.1% of Leeds homes have two or more spare bedrooms (compared to the national average of 42.7%).

7. Tenure of Leeds households - whether owned outright, owned with a mortgage, social housing or privately rented.

Understanding households' tenure is essential in understanding the local property market's demand and supply. For example, if the city has a high number of households in social housing, it may indicate that there is less demand for private rental properties. Conversely, if the city has an increased number of households owning properties outright, it usually suggests that there are more older homeowners (compared to younger homeowners)

• 22.9% of Leeds households own their home without a mortgage (compared to 32.8% nationally)
• 25.6% of Leeds households own their home with a mortgage (compared to 29.7% nationally)
• 25.2% of Leeds households live in social housing (compared to 17.1% nationally)
• 26.3% of Leeds households live in private rented accommodation (compared to 20.4% nationally)

So, what is all this telling us?

The seven metrics discussed in this article on Leeds provide valuable insights into the city's demographics and the future of Leeds’s property market's demand and supply.