Lowly paid paying half of income on rent

Housing charity shelter has warned that low-paid workers are working for the equivalent of a morning per day just to cover the cost of their rent.

Those earning between £16,000 and £23,000 a year, assumed to be in the Conservative party’s ‘just about managing’ bracket, are typically paying 44 per cent of their income on rent to live in a standard one-bed flat.

Shelter is consequently urging the next government to build half a million of ‘living rent’ homes for ordinary working families over the next five years.

Anne Baxendale said: “Colossal amounts of people’s time and money are being snatched away by eye-watering rents, which is a kick in the teeth when they are toiling so hard for their futures. With such a huge chunk of their salaries spent on keeping a roof over their heads, many are forced to dip into savings or are getting into debt to cover other essentials and stay afloat.

“The next government can make a real difference by building half a million new living rent homes for ordinary working people and families. This will give them the chance for a far stronger future, instead of being left to scrape by.”