Renters ‘crammed in crowded homes’

TWICE as many people are living “crammed like sardines” in rented homes than 10 years ago.

More than 283,000 households who rent privately are living in overcrowded conditions – up 95 per cent in the past decade, the latest Government data revealed.

Campaigners said there has been “an explosion” of cases that has left more struggling families living in unsuitable properties.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “More families are crammed like sardines into homes that are too small for them because they can’t afford to rent anywhere bigger.

Stacked

“The odds are stacked against struggling families. What this country desperately needs is an alternative to private renting, which is why Shelter is urging the Government to build a new generation of genuinely affordable social homes.”

The statistics also showed that one in four families with children in England now rent privately – a rise of 84 per cent compared with 10 years ago.

Last night campaigners

said the Government’s latest English Housing Survey figures highlighted the growing crisis caused by the shortage of affordable homes.

The Local Government Association’s housing spokesman David Renard said: “High-quality homes

for affordable and social rent are desperately needed now, and councils need to be able to resume their role as major builders of affordable homes.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local

Government said: “Since 2010 this government has delivered over 464,000 new affordable homes, including 114,000 social homes.

“In addition to this, the social housing waiting list has decreased by 40 per cent since 2012.”