Rising number of tenants falling severely behind with rent

Logically, whatever rent levels are, housing benefit should ensure that the net rent the tenant pays is affordable. So if people aren't paying their rent its down to the fact that they cannot prioritise properly what is important to pay and what isn't. I don't know of any available statistics on this matter but I would suspect that people evicted from their homes for non payment of rent (or indeed mortgages) also have significant other debts on credit cards and council tax. Doubtless for many there will have been a traumatic change in their circumstances which will have been the start of the problems which resulted in eviction, but it is the reaction to that change which will determine the outcome. And the position of many could be classed as risky if when times were good they carried significant serviceable debts without thought as to what would happen if their circumstances changed. too many people have no rainy day fund capable of supporting their current lifestyle for 6 months should their income suddenly cease. And if people argue that they can't afford to save because of their current commitments, then I would say that they need to radically reassess their current commitments and put saving as a higher priority than discretionary spending. We don't have a human right to endless largess from the taxpayer when times get tough for us as individuals, and I don't for one moment underestimate the dramatic changes in lifestyle that are necessary in living within one's means when times get hard, but if people do not face up early to their new situation and deal with it sensibly, then eventually losing the roof over their heads is perhaps inevitable. Those who realistically face up to their issues early will probably survive - those who ignore the issues or pray for a lottery win will probably go under. I think that household budgetting and lifestyle financial matters should be taught at school.

Paying rent or the mortgage to keep the roof over your head should always be a priority against income. Analysis of rent increases indicates that there is a shortage of housing or that existing housing stock is being poorly allocated, particularly affordable housing of Councils and Housing Associations. The very large influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, has severely aggravated the problem, having been approved by previous governments without any thought to provision of accommodation and services. Quite naturally this shortage reflects in the commercial activity with rents and one cannot blame landlords, who are equally hard pressed with ever rising prices. One solution for the Government would be to withdraw any entitlement to provision of accommodation or housing benefits at public expense for immigrants who have not had the sense to arrange their accommodation before arriving here. This would remove many from the affordable housing lists and should generally start a reduction in rentals across the whole spectrum. I recently saw an eviction for non paid rent. Out came a 42 inch smart TV, several other TVs, the kids were texting on smart phones and there was a nice estate car being filled. And the evicted adults were all smoking. Where is the sense of priority??

All part of the sickness we have to put up with in the UK. We have property at grossly inflated prices, being held up by the so-called Conservative lead coalition. Prices are too high, so people have to rent, and because prices are high, rents will be inflated. But prices must not fall or the banks go bust.