Britain's rental crisis has spawned a worrying new phenomenon called 'flat hugging', leaving more than half of tenants trapped in properties with potentially dangerous faults because they fear reporting issues to landlords.
The silent suffering of UK renters
According to recent research from SpareRoom, 45% of renters are actively avoiding contact with their landlords or letting agents. This alarming trend stems from tenants' concerns that raising even essential maintenance issues - such as mould infestations or faulty fire alarms - could trigger rent increases they cannot afford.
The situation creates a perfect storm where tenants remain silent about hazardous living conditions while landlords across the country plan significant rent hikes. A separate survey by mortgage lender Landbay found that 44% of buy-to-let landlords, particularly those in the South East and North West, intend to increase rents by an average of 6%.
What exactly is 'flat hugging'?
The term describes the predicament affecting 56% of UK renters who feel immobilised by soaring costs and limited housing alternatives. These tenants want to move but find themselves financially shackled to properties they would prefer to leave.
SpareRoom's data reveals the stark reality behind this crisis. Over the past five years, room rents have surged by 28% across the UK and an alarming 37% in London. This has pushed average monthly rents to historic highs of £753 nationwide and £995 in the capital, creating an affordability crisis where moving has become a luxury few can afford.
Matt Hutchinson, director of SpareRoom, warns of broader societal consequences. "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 said.
A glimmer of hope in rental reforms
The impending Renters' Rights Act offers potential relief for struggling tenants. The legislation will outlaw no-fault evictions and limit landlords to increasing rent just once per year. Tenants will also gain the ability to appeal excessive hikes, and bidding wars will be prohibited as landlords won't be able to accept higher rents than advertised.
Interestingly, while some landlords plan significant increases, data from mortgage consultancy Pegasus Insight suggests a recent cooling in this trend. The proportion of landlords intending to raise rents has dropped from 78% to 61% over the past year, indicating growing awareness of affordability pressures.
Breaking the 'flat hugging' cycle requires a three-pronged approach: renters must feel secure enough to speak up about property issues, landlords need reasonable incentives to maintain properties, and policymakers must ensure the rental sector functions fairly for all participants.
