New government figures show 79,840 households faced homelessness in England between January and March 2023 – the highest number on record. 

Now Shelter is claiming that a major contributing factor to rising homelessness is the instability of private renting, with the loss of a private tenancy now the leading cause. This accounts for 29 per cent of households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. 

The campaigning charity is again claiming that one of the main reasons for this instability is Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to evict a tenant with two months’ notice, without having to give a reason.  

The charity says some 24,060 households were threatened with homelessness as a result of a Section 21 in the last year – up by 21 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.  

In May, the government published its Renters (Reform) Bill to ban Section 21 evictions and introduce overdue protections for renters; the Bill is expected to receive its second reading this autumn. 

Shelter is urging the government to prioritise the Renters (Reform) Bill as soon as it returns from Summer recess.  The charity is also calling on the Secretary of State for Housing, Michael Gove, to make his ambition to build tens of thousands of new homes for social rent a reality, to ease the pressure on private renting and curb homelessness.  

Charity chief executive Polly Neate says: “With record numbers of people becoming homeless, the time for empty words on building social homes and overdue promises on ending no fault evictions has long past. No-fault evictions are fuelling homelessness and throwing thousands of families’ lives into turmoil. We need decisive action, not lip service, before this crisis gets even worse.  

“When MPs return from their summer break in September, the Renters Reform Bill needs to come back with them, and it must be made law at the earliest opportunity. But to end homelessness for good, we need genuinely affordable homes. The Secretary of State, Michael Gove, agrees social homes are essential to solving the housing emergency, so it’s time for his government to get on and build them.”