Millions of people living in unaffordable or unsuitable homes

More than eight million people are living in unaffordable or unsuitable homes - based on data uncovered by Essex researchers.

The National Housing Federation used data from the "understanding society" survey - an annual survey of 40,000 people carried out by the University of Essex - to make the calculations. The figures were scaled up to reflect the whole population of England.

Looking at how people are affected differently, the calculations estimatedthat:

• 3.6 million people are living in an overcrowded home.

• 2.5 million are unable to afford their rent or mortgage.

• 2.5 million are living in "hidden households" they cannot afford to move out of - such as house shares, adults living with their parents, or people living with an ex-partner.

• 1.7 million are living in unsuitable housing such as older people stuck in

• homes they cannot get around and families in properties which have no outside space.

• 1.4 million are in poor quality homes.

• 400,000 are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including people who are sleeping rough, sofa surfing or have been discharged from a hospital or other institution with nowhere to go.

Urging "a return to proper funding for social housing", Kate Henderson, Chief Executive at the National Housing Federation, said:

"Millions of people are being pushed into debt and poverty because rent is too expensive, children can't study because they have no space in their overcrowded homes, and many older or disabled people are struggling to move around their own home because it's unsuitable.This crisis cannot be solved by tweaks around the edges of the housingmarket."