Housing: Families left feeling helpless in search for homes

Families looking to rent have said they feel “helpless” because of high prices, lack of services and discrimination.

Emma Ceris Williams, 36, from Llandudno, Conwy County, said she became homeless at the end of September.

Sara Hobday, 32, from Cardiff, said she had “never felt so down” and couldn’t find anywhere “because she has a baby”.

Shelter Cymru said that across Wales “discrimination was evidently seen”.

The Welsh Government said more affordable private sector housing would be available during its next term, and any agent or landlord who “unfairly discriminates” against tenants threatened to lose his licence.

Mum-of-two Ms Williams said she felt “physically helpless” when she was threatened with eviction from her rental property in September.

She and her partner Lee were evicted from their 11-year-old landlord in July – a three-bedroom house they are paying £550 a month for.

“We quickly realized that this is nowhere to be found, the prices were absolutely ridiculous,” she said.

“I think there was one that cost £1,600 [a month]and there are ones in that area that cost £2,300, all my wages would be gone and everything else [bills and living costs] would be my partner’s wages and then what?

“We would be left with nothing.”

Ms Williams considered moving to England in the hope that prices would be cheaper.

But their daughter April lives with unilateral cerebellar hypoplasia – a rare neurological condition – and the “last thing I want is to have my five-year-old removed from her school” while their son Theo, 14, starts his GCSEs in September.

“I’ve tried everything, I’ve spoken to the homelessness prevention team, filled out a form to describe my situation, I’ve spoken to council and estate agents – I feel physically helpless,” she told BBC Cymru Fyw.

Ms Hobday and her partner Steve were told last December their family had to leave their rented property as the landlord wanted to sell it.

After eight months of searching, Ms Hobday said it was “the worst thing” being told having a baby put her at a disadvantage.

“When we managed to get a viewing, we applied and very often the applications were not accepted because we have a child – which I think is absolutely stunning that it’s even legal.

“I’ve never been rejected like this in my life, the impact on my mental health has been so bad I don’t think I even understand how bad it could get.”

House prices in Wales are at their highest ever – £240,000 on average, according to the latest figures from the principality’s building society.

This means that more and more people are being forced to try and rent, but due to the rapidly growing number of seekers, there are not enough places to meet the demand.

In addition, many landlords in Wales have decided to sell their properties as new legislation comes into force in December.

Thomas Williams, director of Maison estate agents, said he had seen a “huge shift” since the pandemic, where high demand meant people were willing to pay above the asking price, leading to increased competition with landlords who are faced with “difficult decisions” and people are missing.

“We used to market a property for a rental for about a week to two, but now we find that we get enough inquiries after just half a day to a day of advertising.”

Mr Williams added that they are not allowed to discriminate in the market they are in.

“We work very hard to make sure we do it on a fair basis, but unfortunately very often there is very little to distinguish people from, which means our decision is made very hard.”

Heddyr Gregory of Shelter Cymru said: “We are seeing more and more people wanting to rent privately but are unable to because there is competition going on.

“We found in our research over the past year that around 75,000 people have experienced discrimination when trying to find their current homes. This was because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or disability.

“We also regularly see discrimination in the form of unlawful ‘No DSS’ policies that indirectly discriminate against women and people with disabilities – and even discrimination based on people having pets or children.”

The Welsh Government said: “Every landlord and agent in Wales must subscribe to the Rent Smart Wales code of conduct which clearly states that potential or existing tenants must not be discriminated against – any landlord or agent who unfairly discriminates against tenants risks losing their to lose license.

“Our leasing program in Wales will increase access to affordable housing in the private rental sector and we will be offering 20,000 low-carbon council housing for rent during this government term.”