The number of owner-occupied homes in the UK declined from a peak of 14.8 million in 2006 to 14.6 million in 2009, according to the English Housing Survey published recently by the English government.

However, the survey revealed that 59 percent of all private renters expect to buy a home in the UK. This compares with the 27 percent of social renters who aspire to eventually own their homes.

Of the owner-occupiers, the most common type were couples with no dependent children. These couples were also the most common type of household in the UK.