Voters say the ongoing housing crisis tops the list of key priorities that need to be addressed by the current and incoming government, according to renters in a SpareRoom poll.

The issue scored higher (85%) than the cost of living (78%), NHS waiting times (64%), inflation (52%), climate change (39%), immigration (36%) and crime (34%) in the survey which also revealed that renters most want to see the introduction of rent caps (64%) to help relieve the housing crisis.

This was followed by getting people into empty properties (63%), prioritising residential supply over second homes (61%), building more housing (57%) and adding an additional tax on homes that are empty for more than six months (53%).

 Revolving door

Its research also found that current Premier League managers have enjoyed twice as much time in their precarious job (668 days) as housing ministers (334 days) since 2010, with 16 housing ministers spending an average of 11 months in the 'revolving door' hotseat. Unsurprisingly, only 16% of renters knew who the current Housing Minister was - Lee Rowley.

SpareRoom director Matt Hutchinson (pictured) says that with more than a third of the UK’s households currently renting, the housing crisis is the biggest priority for this or the next government.

“Rents are going through the roof: there aren’t enough properties or rooms available to rent, and landlords are being forced to sell-up,” he adds. “Rather than getting better, it’s getting worse.

“Just as managers plead for more time to get results, it’s crazy that the role of housing minister is treated as a short-term job when it requires stability and a long-term strategy. It’s renters and landlords alike who are suffering at the lack of vision and results.”

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