Fewer than 2% of properties in Britain considered affordable for renters on housing benefit

https://www.crisis.org.uk/about-us/crisis-media-centre/fewer-than-2-of-properties-in-britain-considered-affordable-for-renters-on-housing-benefit-1

• New research from Crisis and Citizens Advice highlights the severity of Britain’s affordability crisis as a coalition of organisations call for housing benefit to be unfrozen so that people can afford to find and keep a roof over their head
•  So far in 2026, Citizens Advice has helped more than 100 private renters a day with housing benefit issues, while the number of private renters helped with housing benefit who’ve also been referred to foodbanks has soared by almost 80% since 2021/22

New research from a coalition of organisations led by Crisis and Citizens Advice has revealed the extent of Britain’s cost of living crisis, with fewer than two in 100 private rental properties listed in Britain (1.9%) now affordable for people on housing benefit, according to data from Zoopla. This is pushing low-income households into debt, poverty and homelessness, with record numbers of families in temporary accommodation. 

The two organisations – alongside Justlife, Shared Health, St Mungo’s, Centrepoint, Independent Age and Shelter – have united to expose the damaging consequences of the freeze on housing benefit for different sections of society, including older people, families and landlords.