In a concerning trend for the UK rental market, more than half of tenants are reportedly ‘flathugging,’ a term used to describe tenants who remain in unsatisfactory living conditions due to financial constraints. According to a recent survey by SpareRoom, approximately 56% of renters feel trapped in their current homes, fearing that raising issues with landlords or letting agents could lead to rent increases.
The reluctance to communicate about necessary repairs stems from a broader fear of exacerbating already challenging financial situations. Research from Landbay indicates that 44% of buy-to-let landlords, particularly in the South East and North West, are planning average rent hikes of 6%, well above the private rental sector inflation rate of 3.6%. These anticipated increases are often viewed as a preemptive move ahead of the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Act, which aims to introduce reforms that include banning no-fault evictions and limiting rent increases to once per year.
The implications of ‘flathugging’ extend beyond tenant dissatisfaction; they pose significant health and safety risks. Problems such as persistent mould, which can worsen respiratory conditions, and malfunctioning smoke alarms, which compromise fire safety, often go unreported. This silence not only affects the quality of life for tenants but also places them in potentially hazardous situations.
Over the past five years, room rents across the UK have surged by 28%, with London experiencing an alarming 37% increase. The average monthly rent now stands at £753 nationwide, while tenants in the capital face an average of £995. Such steep price hikes have created an affordability crisis, where many renters feel they cannot afford to move, even if they wish to leave their current homes.
While some landlords appear to be pushing for higher rents, a contrasting trend has emerged. Data from Pegasus Insight shows a decrease in the number of landlords planning to raise rents, which dropped from 78% to 61% within the past year. This shift indicates an increasing awareness of affordability issues within the rental market.
Matt Hutchinson, director of SpareRoom, emphasized the broader societal impacts of this trend. “If we’ve reached the point where people are turning down job opportunities and career progression for fear of having to re-enter the rental market, our politicians are letting people down in a major way and have been for years,” he stated.
The impending Renters’ Rights Act promises to address many of these concerns by prohibiting no-fault evictions and capping landlords to one rent increase per year. Additionally, the Act aims to prevent landlords and agents from charging higher rents than advertised, effectively eliminating bidding wars. If implemented effectively, these measures could foster improved communication between tenants and landlords, reducing the fear associated with reporting necessary repairs.
Ultimately, the success of the Renters’ Rights Act will hinge on effective enforcement and cooperation from all involved parties. Breaking the cycle of ‘flathugging’ requires tenants to feel secure in voicing their concerns, landlords to have reasonable incentives for compliance, and policymakers to ensure a fair rental market for all.
