Almost one in four tenants in privately rented homes have felt physically ill because of housing worries in the last year, research by YouGov for Shelter has found.
The charity calculates this is equivalent to two million adults who face concerns such as difficulties affording their rent, poor conditions or the threat of eviction.
The study found that 45 per cent of private renters or 3.8 million adults have experienced stress and anxiety as a result of housing problems.
Nearly one in three say these worries have kept them awake at night and almost as many say their situation has left them feeling hopeless.
Shelter emergency helpline manager, Andrea Deakin says: “This time of year can be especially stressful and difficult for families who are struggling to cope with big rent bills, or things like cold and mouldy homes during the winter months.
“Every day at Shelter we see the toll that expensive, unstable or poor-quality private renting can take on people’s lives and their health.”
She adds: “Shelter’s services are open 365 days a year, and with the continued support of the public we will do all we can to be there for everyone who needs us.”
Claire Newton, 41, her husband and two children were renting in Poole and were in dispute with their landlord who would not carry out necessary repairs.
Then they were sent a Section 21 “no-fault eviction” notice and were made homeless because they could not find another property they could afford. The family was moved into temporary accommodation, but have since secured a housing association home.
Newton says: “We went through hell fighting for repairs to be done and then we got an eviction notice.
“I was in a mess and couldn’t function properly. Everything felt like it was going wrong.
“I already had problems with my mental health and suffered from post-natal depression following the birth of my first child.”
She says the kitchen was falling apart and cupboard doors would come off in her hands, but the landlord insisted it was functional
She says: “We were paying a lot for the privilege – £900 a month – but we were still evicted.
“It was a painful experience and so awful.”
However, the Residential Landlords Association pointed to figures in the English Housing Survey 2017/18 which show that 84 per cent of private sector tenants are very or fairly satisfied with their current accommodation, which is a higher proportion than tenants in the social rented sector.
Policy director David Smith says: “We accept that, unfortunately, some private sector tenants will feel unhappy and stressed as a result of their housing but the same will apply to many social housing tenants and owner occupiers.
“We accept also that not all landlords are perfect but the objective assessment is that the overwhelming majority of private sector tenants are satisfied with their accommodation and enjoy a good relationship with their landlord.
“It is vital that tenant groups properly reflect this, rather than stoking fears that tenants are about to be evicted for no apparent reason, live in sub-standard accommodation and are charged exorbitant rents.
“This is simply not true and it is irresponsible to suggest so.”
He adds: “We do all we can to support landlords to provide high standard, secure and affordable tenancies and we call on tenant organisations to work with us to help achieve this and root out the bad landlords that none of us wishes to see in the market.”
