Nearly two-thirds of working private renters in England struggle to pay rent

Headingley, Leeds. Rachel Reeves is under pressure to commit billions of pounds to social housing in next year’s spending review Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer

Nearly two-thirds of workers living in private rented housing struggle to pay their rent, according to a poll that shows how England’s housing crisis is causing financial hardship even for those with jobs.

Only 32% of workers said they were able to keep up on their rent payments without difficulty, the poll by YouGov for Shelter shows, with 40% sometimes struggling and 23% constantly struggling.