#CovidDebtRescue
Campaign: Help for renters to keep their homes

Our latest research has identified a ticking time-bomb of Covid-related arrears and debt, with the most acute danger facing people living in the private rented sector.

Homes are at risk

The Covid pandemic has caused a steep drop in income for millions of households because of the public health restrictions and economic impact of the pandemic.

This financial strain has continued to grow as the pandemic has worn on, causing millions of households who were managing before the pandemic to fall into real financial difficulty.

Private renters have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and over half have experienced a drop in income. Many renters will struggle to recover and will be at risk of losing their home once evictions are allowed again from June 2021.

People will struggle to recover as their spiralling debt risks causing hardship and damage well beyond the direct financial impact, including:

• Mental illness
• Homelessness
• Negative credit ratings
• Prolonged housing insecurity

The inevitable struggle to recover will result in an increase in public spending on re-housing people, supporting mental health and supporting financial recovery.