Press Releases

Many people on low incomes renting privately are being forced to live in slum-like conditions and struggle to find a decent, affordable place to live, says a new report by Shelter.

‘A route to homelessness?’ is written by Julie Rugg, who is currently undertaking a review of the private rented sector (PRS) for Government. The report examines the problems people on low incomes living in the PRS face – particularly when their tenancies end – which resulted in almost 10,000 households becoming homeless in 2007.

Evidence from tenants interviewed for the report shows many people at the bottom end of the sector experience high levels of disrepair and damp, affecting their health and safety. Tenants are often left in a catch-22 situation – forced to accept terrible conditions because they are unable to afford to move elsewhere.

This problem is made worse by the advance rent payments and substantial deposits required by most landlords, which make it virtually impossible for those on low incomes to access good quality housing in the mainstream private rental market.

For tenants reliant on housing benefit, the situation is worse still – the majority of landlords are reluctant to rent to them due to problems with the benefits process, severely reducing their choice of decent accommodation. Landlords who are experienced in dealing with the housing benefit system and maintain their properties well are highly sought after, but there are simply not enough to meet demand.

In response to the report, Shelter’s chief executive Adam Sampson, said: “It‘s a travesty that in 21st century Britain, slum renting is still in existence, with tenants enduring appalling conditions and living at the mercy of rogue landlords.

“This report highlights just how badly the private rented sector is failing its most vulnerable tenants, so its vital we make much needed improvements to the system, to ensure it provides everyone – regardless of income – with a safe and secure home”.

The report offers a numbers of recommendations, including:

• The Government should provide help with advance payments so tenants can secure tenancies;
• A ‘loss of work loan’ scheme should be developed to help people pay rent until housing benefit is arranged;
• Tenants should have the option to provide information to their landlord on progress of a housing benefit claim.

Andrew Barnett, director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which helped fund the report, said: “We welcome this hard-hitting report, which addresses an area of difficulty often ignored by overwhelmed housing agencies and local authorities. The Foundation has a very long association with Shelter, having been one of its earliest funders. Shelter's work to improve conditions in the private rented sector for people on low incomes remains essential.”

Case study interviewed for the report
Annette and her partner had been living in a night shelter, when they were approached by a landlord to move into a self-contained flat in a shared house. Initially the flat looked reasonable and the couple moved in immediately because Annette was pregnant. However, after only a few weeks the landlord had filled the other flats in the property with drug addicts and dealers. Their room door had been kicked in so often it no longer locked and all the baby items were stolen. Annette said: “You don’t feel secure about nowt. You’re meant to be in your own home, that’s the whole point, you’re meant to feel safe and secure”. She knew that once she had her baby, she could not bring it back to the flat, so the couple left.

Further information from: Vicky Smith at Shelter on 020 7505 2162 or 07850 901 142

Notes to editors

1. In 2007, 9,960 people were accepted as homeless following the end of a tenancy in the private rented sector (Communities and Local Government)
2. ‘A Route to Homelessness?’ is a Shelter report, written by Julie Rugg, Centre for Housing Policy, and is available by calling the press office or via Shelter’s website.
3. The report is based on depth interviews with 42 tenants/former tenants and 20 landlords.
4. 'A route to homelessness?' is supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, a pioneering funder of developments in contemporary arts, education and social change in the UK and Republic of Ireland.