Relationship breakdown driving homelessness crisis, research warns

A record 4,793 people were sleeping rough in England on a single night last autumn, according to official data. 

Meanwhile, 132,760 households were living in temporary accommodation in England last September, up 7% year-on-year and also the highest since records began.

Data on homelessness is gathered using different methodology across different UK regions.

The FOI data found the North West recorded the highest number of applications over the five-year period at 17,504, followed by Wales with 15,780 and the South West with 9,390. London recorded 8,795 applications.

The East of England saw the largest increase over the period, with applications rising 185% from 260 to 742, followed by the South East, up 59%.

Rayden Solicitors gathered the data by sending FOI requests to 197 councils across England and Wales.

Of those, 91 responded with usable data, while the firm acknowledged variation in how different councils record the causes of homelessness.

Kayleigh Biswas-Gregory, a senior associate at Rayden, said: “While this data captures relationship breakdown more broadly, it highlights a wider housing risk that many couples face when relationships end.

“It is a common misconception that unmarried couples have the same financial rights against each other on the breakdown of the relationship as married or civil partnered couples do.

“These figures show how relationship breakdown can have a direct impact on housing stability.”

Ms Albanese added: “We need a major shift towards preventing homelessness in the first place, including uprating housing benefit and building the social homes we so desperately need. 

“By tackling these root causes, we can make sure people aren’t exposed to the trauma and indignity of homelessness but instead receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.”