Preliminary findings of the English Housing Survey (EHS) for 2016-7. The report is split into two sections. The first, on households, covers tenure (owner occupation and the social and private rented sectors) and the demographic and economic characteristics of the people who live in the three tenures. It then explores how affordability varies between tenures and how this has changed over time, buying expectations among renters, average rental costs in the private and social rented sectors and the extent to which private and social renters claim Housing Benefit to help meet the cost of their rent. Rates of overcrowding and under-occupation by tenure are then examined, followed by analysis of personal well-being and the extent to which this varies by tenure. The second section, on homes, provides an overview of the housing stock in England including: the age, size, and type of home; energy efficiency of the housing stock; decent homes; homes affected by damp and mould; and smoke alarms. Additional annex tables provide further detail to that covered in the main body of the report.