Around one in five households are privately rented in the UK, so the demand for rented properties remains high.
Searching for the right place to live can be stressful and can often be an exhaustive undertaking.
There are so many things to consider. If you are a family, what are the schools like in the local area and are there plenty of things nearby for the kids? If it is a move for work, is the office close by and what are the local transport links like?
And, naturally, one of the most important factors when buying or renting a home is safety. So, what really makes an area safe and which places are considered the safest in the United Kingdom?
Safety is a primary concern
First and foremost it should be advised that no matter how safe an area or a home is considered it is always wise to take out renters insurance – after all it is better to be safe than sorry!
While the building itself will be covered by landlord insurance, you will need your own renters insurance to protect your own belongings inside the property.
But beyond the obvious factors such as commutes to schools and work, get a feel for the local area. Take a walk down the streets at night and walk around at weekends to get a feel for how busy and noisy the area is.
You can also visit police.uk to check out the crime statistics on the street where the property is.
What makes an area safe
Having said that, it is always advisable to look beyond just the crime statistics when weighing up what makes an area safe.
Is there a high police presence? Officers respond to crimes so if there are plenty of beat police nearby it can be a sign they are often needed in close proximity to respond to incidents.
Abandoned shop fronts and food stalls are also a good indicator of if a place is unsafe, while areas with high numbers of rented properties can be associated with higher crime rates.
Good ways to determine that an area is safe include community events like block parties and farmers markets as they tend to bring families and members of the community together.
Thriving local businesses are a good indicator as are children playing outside and neighbourhood watch groups.
Safest places in the UK
The UK ranks 36th out of 193 in terms of the safest countries to live, so by and large it is a safe place to be.
But which areas are considered the safest?
Well, the Shetland Islands ranks top statistically, with 19.91 crimes per 1,000 people during 2021-22 – the lowest rate of anywhere in the UK.
The quaint village of East Renfrewshire came in at second with 22.7 crimes per 1,000 people, while the city of Aberdeen in north Scotland was third with 31.1.
Ards&North Down (40), Wiltshire (58.1) and north Yorkshire (58.5) all scored well too.
Around one in five households are privately rented in the UK, so the demand for rented properties remains high.
Searching for the right place to live can be stressful and can often be an exhaustive undertaking.
There are so many things to consider. If you are a family, what are the schools like in the local area and are there plenty of things nearby for the kids? If it is a move for work, is the office close by and what are the local transport links like?
And, naturally, one of the most important factors when buying or renting a home is safety. So, what really makes an area safe and which places are considered the safest in the United Kingdom?
Safety is a primary concern
First and foremost it should be advised that no matter how safe an area or a home is considered it is always wise to take out renters insurance – after all it is better to be safe than sorry!
While the building itself will be covered by landlord insurance, you will need your own renters insurance to protect your own belongings inside the property.
But beyond the obvious factors such as commutes to schools and work, get a feel for the local area. Take a walk down the streets at night and walk around at weekends to get a feel for how busy and noisy the area is.
You can also visit police.uk to check out the crime statistics on the street where the property is.
What makes an area safe
Having said that, it is always advisable to look beyond just the crime statistics when weighing up what makes an area safe.
Is there a high police presence? Officers respond to crimes so if there are plenty of beat police nearby it can be a sign they are often needed in close proximity to respond to incidents.
Abandoned shop fronts and food stalls are also a good indicator of if a place is unsafe, while areas with high numbers of rented properties can be associated with higher crime rates.
Good ways to determine that an area is safe include community events like block parties and farmers markets as they tend to bring families and members of the community together.
Thriving local businesses are a good indicator as are children playing outside and neighbourhood watch groups.
Safest places in the UK
The UK ranks 36th out of 193 in terms of the safest countries to live, so by and large it is a safe place to be.
But which areas are considered the safest?
Well, the Shetland Islands ranks top statistically, with 19.91 crimes per 1,000 people during 2021-22 – the lowest rate of anywhere in the UK.
The quaint village of East Renfrewshire came in at second with 22.7 crimes per 1,000 people, while the city of Aberdeen in north Scotland was third with 31.1.
Ards&North Down (40), Wiltshire (58.1) and north Yorkshire (58.5) all scored well too.