Shelter research reveals 352,000 rental sector tenants in England were put at risk of losing their home over the last year

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

More than 352,000 rental sector tenants in England have faced the threat of losing their home over the last year – equating to one tenant every 90 seconds – according to analysis from Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity.

Using Ministry of Justice figures to make the findings, Shelter said that one in every 55 rented households in England was put at risk of losing their home, a calculation based on the number of possession claims issued by landlords in courts.

Between the start of October 2014 and the end of September 2015, there were 149,542 possession claims. Based on the average number of people living in a rented home, this equates to around 352,919 renters across both the social and private sector.

Though possession claims do not necessarily end in eviction, the figures suggest that in one in three cases tenants do end up losing their home.

Shelter also identified hotspots across the country – including large areas of London – where renters were particularly vulnerable to the risk of eviction.

Shelter warns blunt rent cap could harm tenants Read more

Enfield topped the list, with one in every 21 rented homes calculated to be at risk, followed by Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge, also in the capital. Tenants in Rochdale, Bolton, Chorley, Peterborough, Solihull, Slough and Leicester were also particularly likely to face the threat of eviction.

Separate analysis by Shelter also found that about 12,766 renters in Wales were put at risk of eviction over the last year, equating to 35 people a day.

The charity said that rising rents combined with cuts to housing benefit and a lack of genuinely affordable homes were putting pressure on tenants.

According to a private sector rental index from estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains, the average monthly private sector rent across England and Wales rose from £770 in October 2014 to £806 in October 2015. Some housing market experts have suggested that changes for buy-to-let investors recently announced by the government, which will push up their costs, will also have a knock-on effect for tenants and see rents increase further.

Angela, a mother who was evicted from her home in November after she fell into arrears following a hike in her rent, said she and her five-year-old son have been forced to sleep on a friend’s sofa.

“My son was born in that house, he learned to walk and talk there – we had friends and a garden and a stable home, and now it has all gone,” she said.

“I’ve tried to explain our situation the best way I can to my son and I’m trying to stay positive for him, but it’s so hard.”

Alison Mohammed, Shelter’s director of services, said: “It’s shocking to think that every couple of minutes someone receives a notice through the door with the devastating news that they might lose their home.

“We speak to parents every day who are desperately trying to keep a roof over their children’s heads, but with rents soaring and housing support being slashed, many are finding themselves at breaking point.”

Shelter is urgently calling on the public to donate to its emergency appeal this Christmas.