The Renting Reality: What Cheltenham's Data Reveals About Our Town
You're not the only one.
The latest analysis of housing data paints a vivid picture of our town's rental landscape, and it's clear that we, as renters, form a substantial and vital part of Cheltenham's community.
Across Cheltenham, there are approximately 52,896 households
- About 34% of Cheltenham households are in rented accommodation
- Roughly 20% of Cheltenham households are in private rented accommodation
- Around 14% of Cheltenham households are in social rented accommodation
Across our town of approximately 52,896 households, about one in three homes is rented. That's around 18,000 households in Cheltenham who rent their homes. Of these, roughly 10,600 are in private rented accommodation, while about 7,400 are in social housing. These numbers show that renters are not a small minority - we're a significant portion of Cheltenham's population.
The renting experience in Cheltenham varies widely depending on where you live. If you're in St Paul's, you're part of the ward with the highest percentage of renters - a whopping 68.3%! On the other end of the spectrum, in Benhall and The Reddings, only 15.2% of households rent.
- St Paul's has the highest percentage of renters at 68.3%
- Benhall and The Reddings has the lowest percentage of renters at 15.2%
- Lansdown has the most renting households in absolute numbers at 1,705
- Hesters Way has the highest percentage of social renters at 33.8%
- St Paul's has the highest percentage of private renters at 47.8%
Interestingly, in two wards - All Saints and Lansdown - renters actually outnumber homeowners. And if you're renting in Lansdown, you're part of the largest renting community in absolute numbers, with 1,705 renting households.
For those in social housing, Hesters Way has the highest concentration, with 33.8% of households in social rented accommodation. Meanwhile, private renters are most concentrated in St Paul's, making up 47.8% of households there.Six wards have over 40% of households renting: St Paul's, Lansdown, Hesters Way, All Saints, St Peter's, and Oakley
- All Saints and Lansdown are the only wards where renters outnumber homeowners
- Up Hatherley has the highest percentage of outright homeowners at 48.9%
- Battledown has the highest percentage of mortgage owners at 43.6%
- St Mark's has the most balanced renting profile (28.6% social, 16.0% private)
- College ward has a high private renting percentage (37.4%) but low social renting (2.8%)
These figures highlight the diversity of Cheltenham's renting community. We're spread across all wards, from areas dominated by homeowners to those where we're the majority. In six wards - St Paul's, Lansdown, Hesters Way, All Saints, St Peter's, and Oakley - over 40% of households are renting.
But remember, we're more than just statistics. Behind these numbers are real people, families, and individuals, each with their own story and struggles. Whether you're in a ward with many renters like St Paul's, or fewer like Up Hatherley, your experiences and voices matter.
As a renting community, we face common challenges - eviction is the number one rental fear- and rising costs - uncontrolled private rents increased 10% year-on -year and inadequate response to maintenance issues. We need better enforcement of regulation by local authorities.
But we also bring vibrancy, diversity, and flexibility to our neighbourhoods we are full members of our communities and should be making the decisions that affect us. Why should homeowners make all the choices? We need to use our power of numbers to exert local political influence.
These figures serve as a reminder of our collective strength. With over a third of Cheltenham's households renting, we have the numbers to make our voices heard on issues that affect our homes and communities. Whether you're in private or social rented accommodation, in a ward with many renters or few, you're part of a significant community that plays a crucial role in shaping Cheltenham's future.
We know eviction is the greatest fear for Cheltenham renters. used by landlords and agents to drive up rents beyond affordability. There's power in numbers. We are data driven. We want to know what percentage of your income is spent on rent. Please complete this short survey.
