49% of those in private rented housing and 66% in social housing would face financial difficulties if their income fell, such as through a cut in housing benefit, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by the TUC and the Fabian Society.

While the government is cutting housing benefit and mortgage support, more than half the population want to see greater support from government for renters and mortgage payers who get into difficulties with housing costs or who face losing their home.

YouGov found that 31% of private renters and 44% of social renters said that their income is normally about the same as spending but if their income was to fall by say, 10%, that it would cause real difficulty. Of those surveyed, 18% of private renters and 22% of social renters said that they were already worried because their income was less than their expenditure.

The survey revealed that 39% of private renters and 31% of social renters reported that the stress of maintaining their rent payments has affected their performance at work.

When asked ‘Taking into account current pressures on public spending, to what extent do you agree that government should provide a stronger ‘safety-net”, 56% agreed with more support for renters and 60% with more support for homeowners ‘who face difficulties with their housing costs or face repossession’.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “It is no wonder the housing benefit cuts are causing such difficulties for the government