One Fifth of Families Renting From Private Landlords Fear Being Made Homeless Says Shelters Research

HOMELESSNESS - New research from Shelter shows that nearly a fifth of private renting parents – 458,000 adults – are more concerned that their family will become homeless as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and a third feel more negative about their housing situation in the long-term. 

Polling that Shelter commissioned, carried out by YouGov, reveals the lengths hard-pressed families are going through to keep a roof over their heads during the pandemic. During lockdown:

• 49,000 people resorted to using food banks
• 429,000 people were forced to cut back on food to help pay their rent
• 550,000 people took on debt (e.g. overdrafts, credit cards, payday loans and borrowing money from the bank) to help pay their rent

Within this context, the government’s recent string of policy announcements for the housing sector – a cut to stamp duty and an extension of Permitted Development Rights – are answers to the wrong questions says Shelter. 

As the government looks to ‘build back better’, it should level up and build a better future by rolling out a housebuilding programme that will provide everyone with a safe home as a foundation, while boosting the economy and saving jobs say the organisation.

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