MILLIONS of people in England have delayed major life decisions such, as starting a family, because of uncertainty about housing, polling revealed today.

A quarter of people polled — representing about 14 million in the country — said insecure housing had led them to put their lives on hold, with the figure rising to more than two-fifths of adults under 35.

The poll, carried out on behalf of housing association Hyde Group, comes as figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed private rents in England rose by 6.1 per cent in 2023, making last year the steepest on record.

Community union group Acorn urged the government to “get a handle on out-of-control rents” and ensure that the Renters’ Reform Bill currently making its way through Parliament “delivers the security and stability people need,” including through longer notice periods for renters and an end to no-fault evictions.

Acorn head organiser Nick Ballard told the Star: “A secure home should be the foundation of a happy and healthy life, but unfortunately this just isn’t the reality for many people renting in England.

“Runaway rents, coupled with insecurity brought about by short notice periods and no-fault evictions, are having huge impacts not only on the lives of individuals, but also on wider society.”

The ONS figures showed rents rising in Britain as a whole by 6.2 per cent — the highest rise for a calendar year on record — and at a time when house prices are falling slightly.

It found that the crisis is worse in the capital, where rents rose 6.8 per cent last year and 41 per cent of people told the Hyde survey that they had delayed major life decisions.

London Renters Union urged the government to cap rents to take the pressure off households in the short term and invest heavily in public housing.

A spokesperson said: “The prospect of a stable future shouldn’t be a luxury for the few.

“But it feels impossible to make plans for the years ahead when you can barely afford to keep a roof over your head or face the threat of eviction in a month’s time.

“Government decisions to prioritise landlord profits have trapped renters in a cycle of insecurity.

“We are unable to start families, pursue education or career goals, or simply put savings aside for our old age.”