Compared to the European Union, where the average dwelling size is 103 square metres, English homes are generally smaller. Notably, countries such as the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium have larger average properties, while eastern European countries tend to have smaller homes.
In terms of bedrooms, 87% of owner-occupied homes in England have at least one spare bedroom, and 53% are classified as ‘under-occupied’, meaning they have two or more spare bedrooms. This trend has been increasing over time.
By comparison, only 16% of private rented homes are under-occupied. Overcrowding is more prevalent in the social rented sector, where 8% of properties are considered overcrowded according to the bedroom standard.
Meanwhile, energy efficiency has improved over the last decade, supported by new construction standards and retrofitting measures such as insulation. Low-carbon technologies, including air source heat pumps, remain rare, with only 1.1% of English homes using them as the main heating system.