Surge in calls for help on housing problems

A CHARITY has said it has seen a 14 per cent jump in housing problems as rising numbers of people faced homelessness or struggled to keep up with rent.

Citizens Advice claim more clients contacted them for help with housing issues during the three months to the end of September, compared with the same period of 2009, than any other area.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: "The rapid growth in rent arrears should ring loud alarm bells with the government, MPs and local councils as they consider the likely impact of the big cuts to housing benefit that are looming."

The charity also saw a 7 per cent rise in the number of people contacting it for help with benefits and tax credits