Shelter research finds poorest private renters in England struggle to afford food

Shelter found that 372,652 private renting households in England have less than £50 a week left after paying rent, council tax, water, and energy bills. This means the poorest renters often have less than £7 a day and cannot afford the average cost of a weekly food shop. The number of these households has increased by nearly a third since 2021/22.

The research highlights severe financial strain on low-income renters in England, noting that nearly a quarter of working private renters have no savings. This situation could reduce consumer demand for retail goods, as households struggle to afford basic necessities like food and clothing.