Homelessness from the private rented sector 19% higher than before the pandemic

New government figures, released today (24th November), show that from April-June 2022, 69,180 households in England were being helped by their local authority because they were facing homelessness.

While this is a slight drop from the previous quarter, these numbers include 17,530 people facing homelessness from the private rented sector. As rental increases reach record levels across England, councils had seen thousands of people approaching them for support from the private rented sector when compared to the same time frame (January – June) in the previous four years – a rise of 19% compared to before the pandemic (see Notes to Editor).

This is being driven partly due to high levels of no-fault evictions and landlords wanting to sell or re-let their property. The figures show that:

• 5,940 people had received a Section 21 notice, a 76% increase compared to the same time last year, when the eviction ban ended (in May 2021). This brings the total number of people who have faced homelessness because of this, since the end of the eviction ban, to 22,490.
• 10,280 people were facing homelessness between April-June because their private landlord wanted to sell or re-let the property.

With the cost of living crisis increasing the pressure on people’s finances, further government figures released today show that people are beginning to fall through the cracks into the brutality of rough sleeping. The data shows that:

• Over the course of September 2022, 6,631 people were estimated to be sleeping rough across England – a rise of over a 1,000 people (19%) since June 2022 and up 25% since the same period last year.

This the charity warns is further evidence of how challenging this winter will be and is preparing for a rise in demand when it opens its services in late December to people who would otherwise be sleeping rough. The organisation will also be supporting thousands in insecure accommodation across Britain providing food, companionship and support with housing, benefits and training.

Responding to the figures Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “This is a deeply worrying time for thousands of people across the country. These figures show that homelessness from the private rented sector is already higher than before the pandemic – this is only set to get worse as we begin to see the devastating impact of rising costs and escalating rents on struggling households.

“Behind these numbers are the stories of people forced from their homes into a system which is at breaking point. Families spending the winter months cooped up in one room with nowhere to wash or cook, while others are forced miles away from their support networks leaving them isolated and alone. We cannot stress enough how desperately bleak the next few months will be for thousands.

“This cannot continue. The Westminster Government must invest in housing benefit so it covers the true cost of rents and get on with building the genuinely affordable housing we need. Only this will give people the security of a safe home.”

Crisis is urging the public to stand with people experiencing homelessness this winter via its urgent appeal so that thousands of people can get the vital support they need to leave homelessness behind. To donate visit: crisis.org.uk/christmasgift