“But the market’s limitations mean that significant government intervention is needed if it is to play an expanded role in preventing homelessness and housing people on low incomes.”
Multiple moves, the repeated costs of fees, deposits and rent in advance can pull them further into debt
The shortfall in rent is causing many people to fall into debt. And although the government has now pledge to ban letting fees, many are struggling to cope with fees and large rental deposits as they try to move move elsewhere.
“For households experiencing multiple moves, the repeated costs of fees, deposits and rent in advance can pull them further into debt,” according to Shelter. “Our advice services tell us that private landlords are increasingly asking for guarantors, who can be difficult for low-income households to secure.”
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Lord John Bird said the government should treat the housing crisis as “the nation’s biggest issue.” He recommended all government owned surplus land being used for a new generation of social housing to ease pressure on the private rental market.
“I wouldn’t allow the NHS, councils or the army to sell its surplus property – I would say it has to go to social housing,” he said. “I would also appoint a dedicated secretary of state for housing, not someone who has 10 other portfolios, so that social housing is not left to the vagaries of local authorities.
“There’s a lot of interesting stuff done in Finland where you can put a house together for £30,000 – a kind of much improved prefab.”
