Shelter Cymru demands politicians give stronger renters’ rights
7 months ago | 3 comments
Shelter blames rising rents for temporary accommodation crisis as NRLA warns of landlord exodus
9:27 AM, 20th October 2025, 6 months ago
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Landlords selling up is the biggest single reason for tenants losing their homes and needing council support, as Shelter blames rising rents for the temporary accommodation crisis, new data reveals.
According to government statistics, between April and June 2025, 6,700 households in the private rented sector in England qualified for help from their council to prevent homelessness after their landlord decided to sell the property.
This figure is three times higher than the next most common reason for the end of the tenancy.
The statistics also reveal there are now 132,410 households living in temporary accommodation in England, up from 7.6% from the same time last year.
Thousands face a long, grim winter stuck in temporary accommodation
The government statistics reveal a third of households (32%), 42,740, are accommodated in temporary accommodation outside of their home area, up 10% in one year.
London is the worst-affected area in the country. Just under 100,000 children in the city are homeless in temporary accommodation (97,140) and nearly half (46%) of all households (34,280) are accommodated out of area.
In total across England, 2,420 children are now homeless in temporary accommodation, an 8% increase in a year and the highest number since records began 21 years ago.
Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, said: “It’s utterly shameful that the number of children homeless could now fill a city the size of Oxford. Thousands face a long, grim winter stuck in temporary accommodation, including freezing bedsits and cramped B&Bs, because successive governments have passed the buck for a housing emergency of their making.
“Every day we hear from families who are terrified of spending months or even years in appalling conditions, watching their breath hang in the air as damp and mould climbs the walls. These conditions are only worsened by bitter isolation, as many are moved miles away from their extended families, schools, and communities.”
In a press release, Shelter is calling on the government to unfreeze LHA rates to “prevent those pushed to the brink by rocketing private rents from becoming homeless.”
The housing charity claims the only way to end homelessness for good is to build 90,000 social homes a year.
Landlords should be encouraged to invest
However, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says rather than punishing landlords with potential tax hikes in the Autumn Budget, they should be encouraged to invest.
Ben Beadle, chief Eexecutive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Every landlord who decides to sell a property leaves renters facing uncertainty about where they will next call home.
“Renters need responsible landlords to stay in the market for the long term, providing the decent quality homes that the vast majority already do.
“The Chancellor must recognise this basic fact and avoid tax hikes which would serve only to exacerbate the housing crisis for millions of renters across the country.”
Tags:
Autumn Budget, England homelessness, homelessness, NRLA, Rising Rents, Shelter, temporary accommodation
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Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 71
12:06 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by moneymanager at 20/10/2025 – 11:17
Have to ask a financial advisor on that one!
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
1:14 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jesus Diaz at 20/10/2025 – 11:30
At last someone who supports my view that the 1988 was by and large a good piece of legislation and that most of the subsequent legislation should be repealed. The RRB should not proceed unless the government wants to promote homelessness as a lifestyle.
Member Since July 2017 - Comments: 463
2:14 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by moneymanager at 20/10/2025 – 11:17
Safe investment – lots of them if you can lake a long term view (at least 5 years), for example City of London Investment Trust (in the FTSE 250 index) This has increased its dividend EVERY year for the last 59 years since 1966. The current yield is 4.21% and the dividends are paid out every 3 months. If shares are held in an ISA then there is no tax to pay. Even if not in an ISA there is no tax on the first £500 of dividends and if you are a standard rate tax payer the tax on dividends is only 8.75%.
Member Since July 2024 - Comments: 112
3:23 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Sarah Elliot the new CEO of Shelter on an an annual salary north of £135,000 per year. Fact – thanks for sharing this. Perhaps Shelter should be taken to court or change it’s name. Couldn’t make this stuff up really could you? One HMO to sell and I’m out of of UK propety and out of UK totally.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
4:31 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Disgrunteld Landlady at 20/10/2025 – 15:23
Will that make you a gruntled (ex) landlady?
If I were a little younger, I too would be leaving the UK as are both my children.
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 7
8:47 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
“Shelter blames rising rents for temporary accommodation”
Q. Why are rents rising?
A. Because there are insufficient properties to rent.
Q. Why are there insufficient properties to rent?
A. Because landlords are leaving the sector.
Q. Why are landlords leaving the sector?
A. Legislation has made it to difficult and not profitable to be a landlord. Not enough room for a detailed list.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 108
9:51 AM, 21st October 2025, About 6 months ago
‘Tenants blame Shelter for rising rents due to them encouraging a fall in supply’ would be a great title.
Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
9:55 AM, 21st October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by David Dean at 20/10/2025 – 20:47
Three’s good, think like a boxer, jab, jab, knockout.
Member Since October 2025 - Comments: 2
3:56 AM, 22nd October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 20/10/2025 – 10:50
Well, we all know landlords can end homelessness crisis in few just few months if supported by government but making us leave the sector which is just beginning of new crisis
Member Since August 2025 - Comments: 41
9:34 PM, 22nd October 2025, About 6 months ago
The government should observe how many properties are put up for sale compare to bieng bought. The reason is there is less protection for poor lanlords and more for bad tenants ignoring not all tenant’s are thankful to have roof over their head instead they go on about making good landlord’s life difficult. Unless the section 21 is left alone with some amendments to cap rents and make tenant responsible to meet thier obligations and treat property with respect there will be more tenant’s on the street to be housed in temporary accommodation. May i ask who is futting the extra cost i think it has to be the social service or local councils. Well that says all about current government. The government should be encouraging the landlords in invest so more tenant’s looking for decent accommodation can enjoy bit of life instead of becoming homeless along with thier childeren whom will also be deprived of decent place to live and loose any chance of progress by not having proper care or education.
Joe