Social renters bear brunt of furniture poverty but only 3% of new lets are furnished, research finds

It also called on the government to make it compulsory for social landlords to offer furnished tenancies to all residents who are experiencing furniture poverty or in full means-tested benefits.

Claire Donovan, director of EFP, said: “Our report reveals shocking figures that highlight the devastating impact furniture poverty has on families every day across the UK.

“The emotional and social toll means people can feel ashamed to invite others into their homes, increasing social isolation and further impacting well-being.”

The study took place primarily through a survey by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) in 2025, alongside in-depth interviews and focus groups.

It found that an estimated four million adults and one million children are in households that cannot afford basic furniture, appliances and furnishings.

EFP said there has been no significant change on the results of the 2022 survey, which found around five million adults and one million children faced furniture poverty.

Dining tables are the most likely item people are unable to afford, with between 1.8 and 2.4 million people lacking chairs and a table to eat from.

Up to 1.6 million people live in housing without flooring, 1.3 million lack wardrobes or clothes storage and 1.1 million do not have sofas, the study found.

Other common items missing from homes include window coverings, beds, fridges, cookers, washing machines and freezers.

The research found that income is the “main determinant” of furniture poverty, while single-parent families, people out of work and younger people are among those worst affected.

The report acknowledged furniture poverty has “slightly declined” among social housing tenants and highlighted increased attention to the issue within parts of the sector.

More social tenancies are now offered with furnishing compared to the 2% previously recorded, though by comparison 30% of new private sector tenancies are furnished.

But researchers stressed that people living in social homes are more at risk of lacking essential furnishings than private tenants and homeowners.

They called on government to ensure that a planned pilot to develop ways the social housing sector can provide floor coverings for tenants is “swift [and] substantive”, with “minimum requirements for landlords to meet”.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has backed the report, and last year his charity and four major UK retailers partnered with Prince William’s homelessness project to furnish 250 homes.

The National Housing Federation (NHF) has previously backed a “pilot” of requirements for floor coverings in all new social tenancies amid concern about the cost of the policy to the sector.

Kevin Garvey, head of member relations at the NHF, said: “We know that furnishings and floor coverings are an important part of what makes a house feel like a home.

“It is common for housing associations to have support in place for residents, including financial support and vouchers, but we recognise that more needs to be done to support residents in furniture poverty.

“We fully support End Furniture Poverty’s recommendations for local authority support funds to be strengthened so that they have greater capacity to help residents in furniture poverty.

“While this support does currently exist, it is restricted by local authorities’ broader financial pressures.

“The NHF and our members are also committed to working with the government and other stakeholders on a floor covering pilot, which will help explore existing best practice and cost in this important area.”