Nevertheless, people do have concerns about the cost of housing, for example, or about the aggravation involved in moving house, the terms of their tenancies, or the service they receive from their landlord. Since the mid-nineteenth century, a succession of Government initiatives has promoted improvements in the amenity and condition of housing. Although homeownership is the most popular form of housing in England, the housing choices that people make vary throughout their lives depending on their circumstances. When establishing a home for the first time, young people might choose to rent for a while, possibly with the intention of buying later. A homeowner in one area might choose to rent in another area temporarily if he or she moves with work.
Some people prefer to rent permanently.
In later life, people might move to sheltered accommodation, rented or owned. Local authorities and registered social landlords provide housing at affordable rents. There are a number of Government schemes that assist low-cost homeownership. Support for individuals and families who need help to meet their housing costs is available in the form of Housing Benefit and benefit help with mortgage interest payments. Together with the Government's economic policies, its regulatory responsibilities, and public and private investment in housing, these policies help to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home.