New research reveals 1.8m households with mortgages are struggling to pay for essentials such as food (300,000 of which have missed three or more meals in past month because there was not enough money for food), making it unlikely that hundreds of thousands will be able to absorb interest rate rises. The situation is no better for those in the private rented sector, where 1.6m households are struggling to pay for food and essentials, 500,000 of which have missed three or more meals. Many will be at risk if their landlords raise rents.
|
|
Owned outright |
Owned with mortgage |
Private rented |
Social rented |
|||||
|
All |
Low income* |
All |
Low income* |
All |
Low income* |
All |
Low income* |
||
|
Total no. of households (millions) |
9.4 |
1.0 |
8.4 |
1.2 |
5.4 |
1.8 |
5.0 |
2.3 |
|
|
Currently struggling to pay for food and necessary expenses |
% |
15% |
27% |
21% |
48% |
30% |
50% |
38% |
51% |
|
No. of households (millions) |
1.4 |
0.3 |
1.8 |
0.6 |
1.6 |
0.9 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
|
|
Missed three or more meals in past month because there wasn't enough money for food |
% |
3% |
10% |
4% |
10% |
9% |
15% |
17% |
25% |
|
No. of households (millions) |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
|
*Note: ‘Low income’ refers to those households who fall into the bottom 20% of households nationally, based on their income from all sources, after housing costs and household size are taken into account.
The Financial Fairness Tracker – Focus on Housing, commissioned by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust and analysed by a team at the University of Bristol, has been monitoring the personal finances of households since the start of the pandemic (sample around 6,000 people).
On average, mortgagors have experienced steeper price increases than renters over the last six months – 42% have seen an increase of more than £100 a month (27% private renters, 19% social renters). However, their housing costs generally make up a smaller fraction of their monthly take-home pay, reflecting their greater levels of financial resilience and ability to absorb increased costs. In contrast, households in the private rented sector may struggle to cope with even small increases in housing costs. While mortgagors spend on average one-fifth (22%) of monthly take-home income on housing costs, this rises to a third of income (34%) among private renters.
Whilst 30% of mortgagors have seen their mortgage costs increase in the last six months (2.6m households), 37% of private renters (2.0m) and 67% of social renters (3.3m) had seen their costs increase in the same period as a result of their landlord or housing provider increasing the rent.
There has been much media focus on increasing costs for those with a mortgage. At present just 13% of mortgagors are in serious financial difficulties. But because mortgagors are a large group this numbers 1.1 million households, and is likely to rise. For comparison 36% of social renters are in serious financial difficulties (1.8 million households), 23% of private renters (1.2 million) and 5% of outright home owners (0.5 million).
Researchers found whilst price rise forecasts for mortgagors are bleak, this also extends to the private rented sector. Landlords who have mortgages are likely to pass on the costs of interest rate rises, meaning those in the private rented sector, who have faced price rises already, are likely to face more rises, or increased competition if landlords sell up.
52% of those who privately rent their homes feel their financial situation is making their mental health worse (3m households in the UK). This is compared with 19% outright owners and 39% who own with a mortgage. For those in the private rented sector in receipt of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, this rises to 64%.
Rising costs are also causing increasing anxiety across the UK. A third of home owners say that financial worries are causing them to sleep poorly at night (33%) – rising to 36% among mortgagors, 44% among private renters and 45% among social renters.
Mubin Haq, CEO of abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said:
“Many with mortgages have seen a sharp rise in housing costs, with more pain to come. Nearly two million are struggling to pay for food and everyday essentials. However, our research paints a more complicated picture and highlights the difficulties faced by not just those with mortgages, but also those who are renting. Over decades we have failed to invest in housing and stripped back our safety net. Millions of families are paying the price, which has now been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. Those on the lowest incomes are the most financially vulnerable and have no cushion to fall back on if interest rates and rents continue to rise. Government, lenders and landlords need to act to protect people on low incomes.”
Professor Sharon Collard, Chair in Personal Finance at the University of Bristol, said:
“Many headlines in recent weeks have focussed on the upcoming mortgage shock as mortgagors move off fixed rates. This is a particular concern for low-income homeowners who are already struggling to manage and have lower financial resilience to deal with future financial shocks. Likewise, those who rent their homes, who already pay a greater portion of their incomes in housing costs, are already feeling the pain, with more to come. The government needs to work fast to ensure the Renters Reform Bill provides households with the protections they need. Policy needs to enable renters to make longer term plans and so they feel more in control of their finances.”
