One million private renters at risk of eviction, says Shelter

New research by Shelter has revealed almost one million people are at risk of eviction from their private lets due to the rising cost of living.

Shelter’s poll, carried out by YouGov, found one in 12 private renters, which equates to 941,000 people, are currently facing eviction.

The leading housing charity found 504,000 of these private renters had received or been threatened with an eviction notice in the last month, which is up 80% from last year.

Funded by Nationwide Building Society, the survey also revealed that 482,000 people are behind on their rent, putting them at risk of losing their home.

Shelter has warned the government’s failure to unfreeze housing benefits in the fiscal statement that was delivered earlier this month, will result in rising homelessness this winter.

Unfreezing housing benefits would mean people who receive financial help, such as universal credit, would see their housing support payments rise in line with soaring bills.

The research also found a quarter of private renters, equivalent to 2.8 million people, are constantly struggling to pay their rent – an increase of 24% compared with the same period last year.

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter said: ‘Almost a million private renters are at risk of being kicked out of their home this winter, and more will follow.

‘Everyday our emergency helpline advisers are taking gut-wrenching calls – from the mum who’s skipping meals to pay the rent to the family terrified they will be spending Christmas in a grotty homeless hostel.

‘The government’s refusal to unfreeze housing benefit, when private rents are rising at record rates, means the rental crisis is fast becoming a homelessness emergency. At Shelter we are doing all we can to help people keep the bailiffs at bay, but we’ve got our work cut out.

‘Shelter’s frontline services are working seven days a week to help people weather the storm, but as more people turn to us, we need the public’s support more than ever this winter.’

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), which represents private landlords, also called on the government to ‘do more to support those most in need of help’.

Chris Norris, Policy Director for the NRLA said: ‘The vast majority of landlords want to help tenants stay in their homes wherever possible.

‘It is simply absurd that support for housing costs is being linked to rents as they were three years ago, not as they are today.’

The government have claimed that although they will not unfreeze housing benefits, they are helping with the cost-of-living crisis by providing certain vulnerable households with £1,200 payments to help with rising energy bills.

Photo by Jon Tyson