Original article:

Goverment announces mortgage “holidays”, but what about private renters?

The housing crisis is so critical that it has defined a generation. With over 4.5 million privately rented households across the UK, the number of people who rent has doubled in size since 2002. And the cost of renting increased by 38% between 2005 and 2016 in London alone. In fact, a recent report found that “generation rent” means 14 million 20- to 35-year-olds will never own a house.

It’s a precarious way of living, which has just been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. People are worrying about their jobs. Earlier this week, Virgin Atlantic asked staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave. The 4.93 million self-employed people across the UK are also worrying about their incomes.

So what are private renters supposed to do to feel safe and secure in their home during the coronavirus? Here’s everything we know so far about the developing situation.

Privately renting during coronavirus? This is the latest expert advice