More than a third of renters wouldn’t be able to afford a single month of rent from their savings if they were to lose their job (Picture: PA)
Half of working people who are privately renting their home in England would not be able to keep up their payments for more than a month if they lost their job, a new poll has found.
The survey, carried out by YouGov for housing charity Shelter, also found that 34% of renters would not be able to afford a single month of rent from their savings.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the average rent in London could reach £2,700 by next year, £133 more than the current figure.
And outside the capital, the average price for newly let properties passed £1,000 a month for the first time in May, according to property agent Hamptons.
Shelter’s research found that 55% of private renters in England had their rent increased in the past year – and 37% are already struggling or behind with their payments due to the rise.
The survey asked 2,003 private renting adults in England about their housing situation in June.
Among those affected by the current accommodation crisis is Priscilla, a 50-year-old school business manager who works full time.
After being issued with a Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice – which the government aims to abolish – she said she wakes at 4am or 5am to begin looking for properties and has applied for more than 20 so far.
She added: ‘I am stressed, anxious and depressed. I can’t sleep and I can’t concentrate at work. I am already making financial sacrifices; I don’t go out and I won’t be having holidays anymore.
‘I’ve been in several situations where other renters have offered more than the rent advertised. At a recent viewing the estate agent said two people before me had already offered a year’s rent in advance.
‘I’ve talked to my son about all our options, but we can’t afford a deposit to buy when our rent is so high.’
Shelter’s chief executive said private renters ‘are facing a crisis like never before’ (Picture: PA)
Shelter has called for thousands more social homes to be built around the country, providing a ‘genuinely affordable alternative to private renting’.
Polly Neate, the charity’s chief executive, said: ‘Private renters up and down the country are facing a crisis like never before.
‘Decades of failure from government to build enough social housing means that the pressure on oversubscribed private renting is worse than ever.
‘The severe lack of social homes means swathes of people are barely scraping by as they’re forced to compete for grossly expensive private rentals, because there is nothing else.’
She added: ‘We know social housing works for most people because it’s secure and the rents are tied to local incomes.
‘Instead of empty words, the government and every political party must sign up to building thousands more social homes.’
Further research by Shelter found that more than three quarters of social renters in England said they would not be able to afford to live in their local area without their social housing.
A government spokesperson said: ‘We have a strong track record of delivering affordable homes to rent and buy across the country.
‘Since 2010, we have delivered over 659,500 new affordable homes through our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, including 166,300 homes for social rent.
‘Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill will also deliver a better deal for renters, giving tenants greater security in their homes and preventing large rent increases being used as a backdoor method of eviction.’
A new poll also found that 55% of private renters had their rent increased in the last year.