97% of social homes are unfurnished, they are usually empty boxes with no furniture, no appliances, no floor or window coverings. For people on low incomes, furniture and appliances can be some of the most expensive items that they need to buy, and the challenge of furnishing an entire property is a huge mountain to climb.
Some tenants will have all the items that they need but for many, particularly those coming from homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or even simply moving from a furnished property in the private rental sector to an empty box in the social housing sector, they have nothing.
Living without cookers and fridges means people are unable to store and prepare fresh food, unable to store vital medication, and can leave people relying on expensive ready meals or takeaways.
Living without a bed can mean people are unable to get a good night’s sleep with severe impacts on their physical and mental health.
People are far less likely to invite people into their home if they have not got a sofa for them to sit on, leading to social isolation.
Our research shows that social housing tenants are disproportionately affected by furniture poverty, being four times more likely to experience furniture poverty that homeowners and significantly more likely to experience furniture poverty than private renters.
For social housing tenants experiencing furniture poverty, 51% reported extreme or very negative impacts on their physical health and 62% reported extreme or very negative impacts in their mental health.
Millions of social housing tenants across the UK are living in furniture poverty, and it is time for this to change. Together we can End Furniture Poverty.
