In April-May 2021, 7% of private renters were in arrears, up from 3% in 2019/20, according to the third wave of the Household Resilience Study published today by the Office for National Statistics.

The percentage of tenants in arrears is equivalent to 784,000 people, according to calculations by the National Residential Landlords Association

A further 9% of private tenants said they were very or fairly likely to fall behind with rent in the next three months, the government survey found.

With 27% of private renters having reported difficulties in meeting their heating costs in the same period and bills expected to rise further still, the NRLA is warning that many renters will struggle to pay off Covid-related rent debts.

Its chief executive Ben Beadle says:“Landlords are being put in a difficult position. 

“They either try to shoulder rent debts they cannot afford or seek to repossess properties as a final resort.

“Without a targeted package of support to pay off Covid rent debts, many tenants run the risk of losing their homes needlessly. 

“They also face the possibility that their credit scores will be damaged, making it more difficult to access new housing in future.

“The Chancellor needs to address this crisis. 

“His continued failure to act signals to the private rented sector that the Government simply does not care about the problem.”