Over 2.5 million parents cutting back on winter essentials to pay their rent or mortgage

The New Year may not be very happy for millions of families, as research by Shelter reveals over a quarter of rent or mortgage paying parents in England are cutting back on winter heating and clothing to meet their housing payments. This is the equivalent to 2.7 million parents.

The study by housing and homelessness charity Shelter and YouGov shows the strain families face in January, with one in ten parents fearing they will be unable to pay their rent or mortgage this month.

This is despite the fact that many have already cut back on Christmas to help meet their housing costs, including reducing their spending on presents and food.

With our shortage of affordable homes leaving many families struggling with sky-high housing costs, over 100,000 people have sought advice on housing debt from Shelter's helpline, online, or face-to-face services in the last year.

Shelter's helpline adviser Danielle Goodwin said: 'It never gets easier to hear a parent on the phone in tears, and at breaking point from the weight of their spiraling housing payments.

The charity is urging anyone starting to have difficulties paying their rent or mortgage to get help as early as possible to avoid losing their home.

'Every day at Shelter we hear from parents who face the bleak choice between missing their rent or cutting back on heating – even though their families have barely had a Christmas to celebrate.

'So many families are feeling the pinch and there's no shame in asking for help, which is why Shelter is here 365 days a year. Getting advice early can make all the difference, and we're only ever a click or a call away at shelter.org.uk/get_help or on 0808 800 4444.'

Case study: Michelle from Cambridge and her family have had the threat of eviction hanging over them since husband Kevin became self-employed in his job as a builder.

'Even though my husband works as many hours as he can, it's constantly hand to mouth. We cut back on everything to pay the rent – including food. When the children are at school the heating isn't on at all, and over Christmas we had to cut back on presents and clothing.  

'I try to hide it as much as I can from my youngest children but they know they can't ask for treats, and not to let anyone they don't know into the house in case the bailiffs come round. I hate living like that. I recently went to the doctor because the stress of it all has made my asthma worse.

'When I rang Shelter my adviser was really supportive and I felt for the first time, there might be light at the end of the tunnel. I found out that there are things you can do to stay in your home.'