Almost a million private renters are under threat of eviction

Shelter urges public to support its urgent appeal as thousands of people face homelessness

One in 12 private renters in England – equivalent to 941,000 people - are currently under threat of eviction, according to new research from the housing charity Shelter.

The charity’s polling, conducted by YouGov and funded by Nationwide Building Society, found that of those at risk of eviction, 504,000 private renters had received or been threatened with an eviction notice in the last month, up 80% on the same period last year, and 482,000 are behind on their rent, putting their home in danger.

Shelter is warning the government’s failure to unfreeze housing benefit in its autumn statement ignores the rental crisis that is unfolding across the country and will result in rising homelessness this winter.  

Record high rents and soaring living costs mean the fear of becoming homeless is looming large over millions of people stuck living in insecure private rentals. The charity’s 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 to the same period last year.

• More than two thirds (69%) of private renters – equivalent to 7.7 million people – would struggle to find a suitable home this winter if they were evicted.

In response, Shelter is calling on the public to support its frontline services who are working seven days a week to help as many people as possible to find, or keep hold of, a safe home.

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

Case study: Dave, 51, is disabled and lives in a one-bed house in Woking with his 16-year-old son. He has been served a Section 21 no-fault eviction by his landlord and is currently awaiting a court date. He is worried him and his son could end up homeless as he cannot find another private rental he can afford. Dave’s housing benefit, which is supposed to cover a two-bed rental in his local area but is frozen at 2020 levels, does not even cover the cost of many studio apartments.

Speaking about his experience, Dave said: “I burst into tears when I got the section 21. The possibility of getting one is always there in the background, but it was still a shock.

“It’s been impossible to find somewhere new. There are so many places advertised, but they’re all a couple of hundred pounds more than my housing benefit. The local housing allowance is a joke. For a two-bedroom house in Woking the LHA rate is £1200 a month, and yet I’m seeing studio flats going for £1400. And if you find one you can afford, as soon as letting agents hear benefits, they don’t want to know.

“The last time I received a section 21, I ended up sofa surfing for about three months. It’s going to be the same thing again this time I know. I’m in my 50s, I shouldn’t have to go through that. I try to shield my son from it. On the surface you wouldn’t think it’s affecting him, but I know it is. And I have trouble sleeping all the time. I’m sick with worry about what will happen to us.”

To help Shelter support more people fighting for their home visit: www.shelter.org.uk/donate.

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