Housing Crisis Hits 1960s Levels As Tenants Battle To Cope

More than half of the people living in private rented accommodation say they are struggling to pay for it. A YouGov poll of more than 4,500 people for housing charity Shelter shows that 53% were finding it hard to pay their rent, and a further 3% were falling behind on payments. The survey reveals that 15% of private renters are worried about paying their rent this month and that nearly a third, 32%, have had to cut back on winter essentials such as heating or clothing to meet their financial obligations.  Unable to afford homes of their own, tenants are being hit by rising rents as landlords take advantage of the acute shortage of housing. The number of households in private rented accommodation is now similar to that seen in the 1960s, when England’s housing crisis triggered a furore that led to Shelter’s creation. Read more on the Observer website.