UK housing: Shelter reveals 'home threat hotspots' as 350,000 renters at risk of eviction

Around 350,000 people living in rented households in England were at risk of eviction in 2015 because of high rents, low wages and welfare cuts, according to the housing charity Shelter, which analysed statistics from the Ministry of Justice.

Shelter took the total number of possession claims for rented homes in different areas of England and compared it with the number of renters, identifying what it calls "home threat hotspots".

For the whole of England, one in 55 rented homes were at risk of eviction, or 148,039 households containing 350,852 people.

The worst-affected areas are Enfield and Barking & Dagenham in London, where one in 23 rented homes are at threat. Of the 20 home threat hotspots, 15 are in London where an acute housing shortage has forced up rents and government cuts to housing benefit have bit hardest.

According to property firm HomeLet, the average private rent in the UK, excluding London, is £771 a month. In London, the average rent is £1,563. Demand for social housing is fierce in London because of high rents, but the shortage forces more people into the private rented sector, where housing benefit is no longer enough to cover costs.

"Every day at Shelter we hear from people who are struggling to keep up with their rent, many in total desperation after the court papers land on their doormat and the threat of being evicted becomes very real," said Nadeem Khan, helpline adviser for Shelter.

"It's natural to feel overwhelmed, but remember, you're not alone – Shelter is here 365 days a year. So if you're struggling to keep up, or facing eviction and not sure what to do next, get expert advice as soon as possible. It can be the difference between losing your home and keeping it."