The UK Has the Worst Housing Costs in Europe

The price of a property for the lowest earners has risen faster in Britain than anywhere else in western Europe. This only fuels a startling increase in homelessness that has become a significant issue.

Startling Increase in the UK

For people who earn about £16,000 per year, housing costs have increased by 45% between 2010 and 2016. By contrast, there has been an average 10% increase for the lowest earners across Europe. According to a report conducted by the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (Feantsa), the main cause of statutory homelessness in England is the termination of private rental contracts when people can’t afford another home.

Lowest Ranking in Europe

Britain’s low ranking for the rising costs for the poorest in society will emphasise concerns about the dramatic increase in the amount of people sleeping on the streets. According to the latest government figures, 4,751 people were sleeping rough in the Autumn of 2017. This is a 15% increase from the previous year, with the largest numbers are in Westminster, Brighton, Camden and Manchester.

The report also showed a bleak perspective, with just over 4 in 10 poorer households in the UK are overloaded with housing costs. This is defined as spending over 40% of disposable income on housing and is just above the EU average.

People Have Been Left Vulnerable

Chief executive of Shelter, Polly Neate outlines that the severe lack in affordable housing “has left millions of families across the country trapped in expensive, unstable private renting”. People are genuinely struggling to balance high rent prices with everyday living whilst to make ends meet. What’s more, the situation is made far worse by crippling welfare cuts and people are left extremely vulnerable.

The report concluded that “homelessness is a clear violation of human rights, which despite everything is chronic and significantly worsening in Europe”. In the UK, the government has been called upon to build more homes. More importantly, they should be genuinely affordable for people with low incomes.