Bricks, mortar and data: understanding house and rent price statistics
Whether you’re moving house or just curious about the market, housing prices play a big role not just in our wallets, but across the wider economy too. From shaping personal budgets to steering national policy, these data help to paint a picture of the country’s economic health and social mobility.
Our upcoming Bringing Data to Life webinar, taking place on Wednesday 28 May from 4pm to 5pm, will explore key questions like: How can we track changes in housing costs? How much are average rent and house prices changing over time? And how can you explore the data for yourself?
The housing market is always shifting, and the numbers behind it can be tricky to untangle. In recent years, rising prices in some regions have highlighted affordability challenges and helped local authorities make better decisions.
We’ll be sharing how the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been developing better ways to track what’s really going on — using key data like the UK House Price Index (HPI) and the Index of Private Rents (PIPR) to show more clearly how things are changing. You’ll also have the chance to see a live demo of our housing prices tool – an interactive way to explore the latest average house prices and monthly private rents in your local area, and track how they’ve changed over time.
An Outside View
We’re also opening the door to guest speakers from the Valuation Office Agency, whose teams hit the streets to meet letting agents and encourage them to voluntarily share rental data with the government.
Find out how the rent details shared make a real difference and provide key insights that play a vital role in setting Local Housing Allowance and Housing Benefit rates, which help private tenants cover their rent.
An Interactive Experience
This is not just another webinar—it’s an interactive session where you can ask questions and share your thoughts via Slido. Get involved, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding of how statistics shape public opinion.
How to Join
📌 SIGN UP NOW on Eventbrite and be part of the conversation using #StatisticsForThePublicGood on LinkedIn, X, and Threads.
The event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, but if you can’t make it live, don’t worry. A recording will be available on the ONS YouTube channel afterwards, so you won’t miss a thing. Curious about the rest of our Bringing data to life series? You can explore the previous webinars here too.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see how data goes beyond the numbers—helping to improve lives and shape a better future for all.
This session is open to everyone — whether you’re new to statistics or just interested in understanding more about how the housing market ticks.