Homelessness and rent arrears are among fastest growing problems reported by Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) across England and Wales.

The CAB dealt with 14% more housing problems in the three months July – September 2010 compared with the same period last year. New figures show that in the second quarter (Q2) of this financial year (2010/11) the overall rise in housing problems was fuelled by big increases in enquiries about homelessness, both actual and threatened. At the same time bureaux continued to deal with a big increase in rent arrears to private landlords.

Actual or threatened homelessness problems rose 22% from 20,289 to 24,720, while rent arrears to private landlords rose 19% from 5,876 to 7,020.

Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said: “Housing has always been one of the top four issues dealt with by Citizens Advice Bureaux