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One in four privately renting families in England are taking on serious debts to cover the cost of "home hopping", according to research from Shelter.

The charity said 25% of those it surveyed took on debt in the form of credit cards, overdrafts, bank loans or payday loans the last time they moved.

Shelter said its findings equate to more than a quarter of a million renting families across England being burdened with debt when they move - making them particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy and any potential interest rate hikes.

It said that on average, each family has to pay out more than £1,400 in moving costs for expenses such as removal vans, potentially paying rent on two properties for a period, cleaning costs and having to buy new furniture.

Shelter argues that five-year tenancies should be introduced "as standard" to help renters clear debts and give them more security.

The charity said in one case it has seen, a mother who rents with her husband and is studying to be a teacher says the family have around £15,000-worth of debts after having moved home every one or two years.

Polly Neate, Shelter chief executive, said: "We speak to parents every day who want nothing more than to have control over their lives, and provide stability - both financially and in a settled home - for their children, but instead are constantly forced into packing up and moving on."

More than 990 private renters with children in their household were surveyed.

A Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) spokesman said: "Everyone deserves a safe, secure place to live including those renting. That's why we're banning letting fees for tenants to reduce costs of moving and have produced a model tenancy agreement to support those who want a longer, more stable agreement.

"We've also been working with the National Housing Federation and British Property Federation to get their members to offer 'family-friendly' tenancies of three years or more for purpose built rental homes.

"We know that more needs to be done to boost home building, which is why we've doubled the housing budget to £8 billion and putting into action the largest affordable housing programme for 40 years."