Homelessness could treble this year due to financial impact of coronavirus, campaigners have warned today.

A new report, published by Generation Rent, shows that rent arrears has trebled since the start of the crisis, with over half a million households currently in arrears.

The report urges the Government to suspend evictions for rent arrears and ensure the benefits system covers housing costs.

It also calls for a new £750m Coronavirus Home Retention Scheme to clear rent debt and allow landlords to claims for up to 80% of lost income. 

Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson, Tim Farron, said: 'The fact that homelessness is set to treble this year is yet more proof that the consequences of the pandemic are set to be devastating for those struggling to get by. The Government must take action now to stop these statistics becoming a reality.'

However, the National Residential Landlords Association said that a poll of tenants found 90% have been able to pay their rent as usual since the coronavirus crisis began.