What socio-demographic factors are affecting the market? Which of the following are important?
• the changing attitudes and lifestyles of younger people; • the rules and policies which prevent people obtaining other rented accommodation; • the inaccessibility to other types of tenure. Comparative Factors What lessons are to be learned from other housing markets which have expanded and how these may or may not be applicable to Northern Ireland? In addition are there lessons to be learned from different and similar legislative frameworks and professional practices? Housing Benefit What role does housing benefit play in sustaining the market, particularly at the lower end? In addition, what impact has the introduction of the scheme in 1983, and the legislative changes made since, had on the private rented sector? Research Objectives The central focus of the PRS research will be to provide information on factors accounting for the recent growth of the private rented sector as well as assessing the potential for further growth. Relatively little research has been carried out on this
