The number of homes owned by their occupants fell from a peak of 14.8 million in 2005 and 2006 to 14.6 million in 2008-09, according to the latest English Housing Survey from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

This is not because people do not want to buy their own house or flat, though.

Desire to own property remains high among most parts of the adult population, but high prices, the credit crunch and a lack of houses and flats coming on to the market have conspired to prevent many people from realising their dreams.

If people are not buying property, then they must be living in rented accommodation. So it is unsurprising to see that the number of households renting off a private landlord has risen over recent years.

Between 2001 and 2009, according to the government's figures, the number of private rental households in the UK jumped by 1 million to 3.1 million.

About a third of those now living in accommodation of this type are people who live on their own, while couples without children make up 42% of the owner occupier total - demonstrating how much easier it is for a couple with access to two salaries and two savings pots to get a foot on the housing ladder.

Many of those renting expect to own their own homes eventually, however.

In fact, almost six in 10 plan to buy a property in the UK at some point in the future, with about a quarter expecting this to happen within the next two years.

Economists point out that this is unlikely to prove the case unless more properties come on to the market, though.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said: "Interestingly while the proportion of private renters looking to buy over the next couple of years has declined according to the report, this is not indicative of a diminishing desire to own property; there has been an increase in the proportion of private renters expecting to purchase a house over the medium term.

"However, unless housing supply increases substantially over the next few years, the likelihood is that many of those aspiring to buy a home will continue to find such a move out of their reach.

"Even if there is some easing in prices later this year as mortgage costs begin to rise, it is unlikely that this process will continue unless the economy were to lurch back into recession, which is not expected."

If you are hoping to buy a new home, or find a rental property, you can find a large range of properties for sale and rent at specialist website zoopla, which also offers potential buyers the chance to peruse house prices paid across the UK since 1995.