Crowded house warning

There are already record numbers of people on housing waiting lists in England but despite the social housing sector’s efforts to develop more new homes, things are only going to get worse according to the National Housing Federation (NHF)

The NHF, which represents England’s housing associations, says that the number of people living in
overcrowded housing will hit three million within the next three years as a chronic shortage of affordable homes and the impact of the recession forces increasing numbers of families to live in cramped conditions.

It predicts a 20 per cent rise in the number of families living in overcrowded housing by 2013, from 2.55 million in 2008 to 3.4 million in 2013, warning that millions of people are now at risk of being trapped in substandard housing for a generation.

The Federation blamed the dramatic slump in house-building for fuelling the crisis. Just 123,000 new homes were built in England and Wales in 2009 to 2010, the lowest number in 87 years, as developers mothballed new developments during the economic downturn.

According to the NHF a record 4.5 million people in England are currently on housing waiting lists with rising unemployment and an increase in repossessions brought on by the recession further increasing demand for affordable housing.

The drought in mortgage finance has also forced many young families to stay at home with their parents while they save for a deposit, or simply to abandon hope of being able to afford their own place for the foreseeable future.

At the same time, the supply of affordable homes has failed to keep pace with demand and the prospects of getting an affordable home are looking bleaker than ever for millions of people.

As well as having a negative impact on family life, overcrowding can contribute to increased levels of homelessness and put enormous pressure on public services – as families are housed in expensive, and often unsuitable, temporary accommodation.

Overcrowding is also closely linked to poor health, low educational attainment and family breakdowns.

National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr said: “Living in overcrowded housing can be hugely damaging to family life. It can lead to poor health, depression and puts family relationships under enormous strain.”

The problem of overcrowding is particularly acute for larger families of five or more people – with 25 per cent currently living in overcrowded properties.

But with not enough new family homes being built, that figure is expected to increase sharply over the next three years, with over 28 per cent of larger families predicted to be living in unsuitable homes by 2013.

Regionally, the problem of cramped living conditions is most severe in London, where seven per cent of all households are officially classified as overcrowded. The number of people in the capital living in overcrowded housing will rise from an estimated 912,000 in 2008 to just under one million by 2013.

In the South East, the second worst affected area, an estimated 80,000 households are overcrowded, and that number will rise to 90,000 by 2013. In the North West there are an estimated 79,000 households classed as overcrowded, increasing to 89,000 by 2013.

Orr continued: “High levels of unemployment and repossessions, combined with a dramatic slump in the number of new homes being built has led to a sharp increase in the number of families living in overcrowded housing.

“The next government must make building more affordable homes for families a key priority, and we urge all three main parties to commit now to protecting the housing budget when public spending cuts are implemented after the election.”