'Housing crisis means I can't use my own bathroom'

Karen has been living in a flat that is unsuitable for her restricted mobility

A woman with arthritis says demand for housing in the private rental sector is so high she has no option but to live in a flat with a bath she cannot use.

Karen Bray said she had to downsize from a house to a small flat in North Shields after a no-fault eviction, and had struggled to find a more accessible home she could afford.

She is urging the government to deal with the rising cost of private rents and a lack of choice for people with mobility issues.

The government declined to comment on Ms Bray's case but said its Affordable Homes Programme aimed to create 5,000 affordable and social homes in North Tyneside.

Ms Bray has been keeping the cat litter tray in the bath because she cannot physically use the bath herself

Ms Bray said the bath was not big enough.

"I have to pay to use showers at leisure centres because I can't use the bath here."

She added the flat was affecting her mental health.

"It's a bit like a game," she said. "You have to move one thing to get to another."

Ms Bray said her bedroom was like a "glorified passage to the back door", with her living room being part of her kitchen.

She said she was grateful she did not have to share a room with her teenager or sleep in the living room, but added: "There's no doubt that there are more suitable properties out there that are empty."

Karen Bray had to downsize from a house to a small flat because of high rents

Housing charity Shelter said Ms Bray's case was not unusual.

North East strategic lead Tracy Guy said: "We're seeing an 8.9% increase in rents in the last year, coupled with huge waiting lists for social housing."

Mrs Guy said people on benefits or low incomes could not get a private rent in Newcastle.

"It's just inaccessible, the rents are too high," she said.

Shelter hopes the Renters Reform Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, will be a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul the private renting sector".

The bill proposes scrapping section 21 'no fault' evictions and introducing more fairness to the system.

Tracy Guy, of housing charity Shelter, said it was "really desperate" for private sector renters

A government spokesperson said: "We are urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need so more families can get on the housing ladder.

"We're sweeping aside the blockers to get houses built, and paving the way for the next generation of new towns."

They added the government was spending an extra £800m on the existing Affordable Homes Programme to help deliver tens of thousands of new affordable and social homes across the country.