Households facing homelessness from the private rented sector reaches record levels in England – Crisis response

Today, 13th October 2023, new figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that households facing homelessness from the private rented sector has now reached record levels across England.  

The statistics show that 24,260 households were served a s21 ‘no-fault eviction’ over the last year, a 22% increase on the previous year and the highest since the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) was introduced in 2018. A further 42,110 households needed help with homelessness because their landlord wanted to relet or sell the property, a rise of 28%.  

The ending of a private rented Assured Shorthold Tenancy is now the biggest driver of homelessness, accounting for 74,500 or 24.9% of households seeking support. This is an increase of 27.3% from last year. 

The past year has seen rents reach record highs at a time when the cost of living crisis has piled additional pressure onto struggling households. The chronic shortage of housing combined with an unaffordable private rental market has seen dramatic increases in the numbers of families and individuals thrust into homelessness.  

The figures show that: 

• 298,430 households received help from their council because they were homeless or threatened with homelessness. This is a 7% rise on the previous year, and a 3% increase on pre-pandemic levels.  
• There has been a 9% increase in the number of households currently homeless who were in full or part time work.  

With an election on the horizon the national homelessness charity Crisis is urging the Westminster Government and all political parties to wake up to this escalating situation and urgently commit to a plan to tackle homelessness.  

Responding to the statistics Matt Downie, Crisis Chief Executive, said: “Record numbers of households are facing homelessness from the private rented sector because of the Westminster Government’s failure to get a grip on our crumbling housing market.  

“Through our services we see day in day out the emotional and financial toll that comes with having no secure roof over your head. With little to no affordable housing to go around we’re seeing thousands trapped in temporary accommodation like nightly paid B&Bs and hostels that costs billions and doesn’t provide people with a secure place to rebuild their life.  

“With an election looming it’s time for the Government to face up to this mounting crisis and bring in the protections it promised renters in the Renters Reform Bill more than four years ago. Alongside this, we must see investment in housing benefit at the Autumn Statement so we can stop people becoming homeless in the first place. But ultimately, we need a plan to build more social housing if we’re going to end homelessness once and for all.” 

Notes to Editor  

The full statistics for Statutory homelessness in England: financial year 2022-23 and the dataset can be seen and downloaded here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-financial-year-2022-23/statutory-homelessness-in-england-financial-year-2022-23#overview-of-homelessness-in-2022-23 

• In 2022/23 a total of 74,500 households, those owed either a prevention or relief duty, had the end of a private rented tenancy (assured shorthold) – as reason for loss of last settled home.  
• Households owed a duty due to the service of a valid Section 21 Notice numbered 24,260 in 2022/23. 
• Both figures are the highest since the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act and the corresponding data collection began in 2018.