Furnishing Futures: Tackling Furniture Poverty Through Local Government Action
- truthaboutlocalgov
- Aug 8
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 10
Furniture poverty is not a term that immediately springs to mind when one considers the crises facing the UK today. It lacks the urgency of homelessness, the visibility of food banks, or the political weight of energy bills. Yet, as Claire Donovan, Director at End Furniture Poverty, and Ian Rice, Service Manager for Financial Support at North Tyneside Council, made abundantly clear in our recent podcast, it is a deeply entrenched issue with far-reaching consequences quietly shaping lives behind closed doors. Furniture poverty is the hidden hardship of living without the basic items that make a house a home. It’s the absence of a bed to sleep in, a sofa to sit on, a cooker to prepare meals, or curtains to shield one’s privacy. These are not luxuries they are the foundations of daily life, of dignity, of wellbeing. And when they are missing, the impact is profound.
What Is Furniture Poverty?
Claire Donovan defines furniture poverty as “someone who is living without one or more essential item of furniture, appliances, floor and window coverings.”
These essentials include the likes of a bed, sofa, cooker, fridge-freezer, and washing machine. Crucially, it’s not about personal choice it’s about enforced lack. If someone needs and wants these items but cannot afford them or access them through support schemes, they are living in furniture poverty.
This distinction is vital. It separates lifestyle from necessity, and choice from deprivation. A person may choose to live minimally, but furniture poverty is about those who are denied the basics not by preference, but by circumstance. The scale of the issue is staggering. Data from 2022 revealed that 6 million people in the UK around 9% of the population were living in furniture poverty. Among social housing tenants, the figure was even more alarming: 26%. These numbers are not just statistics they represent families, individuals, and communities struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy in homes that lack the very items that make living possible.
And the situation is worsening. With the cost-of-living crisis deepening, inflation rising, and public support systems stretched thin, the number of people affected is expected to grow. End Furniture Poverty is currently working with the National Centre for Social Research to update these figures, and the early indications are sobering. Furniture poverty is not just about what’s missing in a room it’s about what’s missing in a life. It’s about the inability to rest, to cook, to gather, to feel safe. It’s about the erosion of comfort, stability, and self-worth. And it’s time we recognised it as a crisis in its own right.
The Human Cost
Furniture poverty is not just about missing items in a home it’s about the erosion of dignity, comfort, and stability. Claire Donovan spoke with heartfelt clarity about the lived realities of those affected. Imagine the emotional toll of watching your children sleep on bare floorboards, or the daily anxiety of not knowing how you’ll prepare a meal without a cooker or fridge. These are not abstract concerns they are the daily struggles of millions.
“It can be very detrimental to think that your children are sleeping on the floor… you can’t sit together as a family because you haven’t got a sofa,”
Claire explained. This lack of basic furnishings undermines the very essence of what a home should be a place of rest, nourishment, and connection.
The psychological impact is profound. Families living without essential furniture often experience heightened stress, anxiety, and depression. The absence of a bed or a sofa isn’t just uncomfortable it’s a barrier to sleep, to social interaction, and to mental wellbeing. Parents may feel guilt and shame, children may struggle with self-esteem, and the home becomes a source of distress rather than refuge. Social isolation is another insidious consequence. The stigma attached to living without furniture means many people avoid inviting friends, neighbours, or even support workers into their homes. This withdrawal from social contact can exacerbate loneliness and cut individuals off from vital services and community support.
Financially, the situation is equally dire. With few options available, many turn to high-cost credit to furnish their homes, plunging themselves into cycles of debt. The burden of repayments often forces families to choose between heating, eating, and keeping a roof over their heads. As Claire noted,
“People often turn to high-cost credit… leaving them unable to buy food, pay for fuel or rent or other bills.”
In recent years, the crisis has deepened. As public and charitable support has shifted towards food and fuel, furniture has fallen off the radar. Yet its absence continues to wreak havoc on lives, silently and persistently.
A Public Health Crisis
Furniture poverty is not merely a housing issue it is a public health emergency. The absence of essential furnishings directly impacts physical health, mental wellbeing, and social care outcomes. Claire Donovan highlighted the growing recognition of this link, noting that even Sir Michael Marmot, a leading voice on health inequalities, has taken an interest in the issue.
“There’s a big public health argument for tackling furniture poverty,”
Claire said, pointing to the ripple effects across the NHS and social care systems. Without a bed, sleep quality deteriorates. Without a cooker or fridge, nutrition suffers. Without a sofa or table, family cohesion and mental health decline. These are not luxuries they are foundational to health. End Furniture Poverty has worked closely with Liverpool City Council’s public health team to embed furniture provision into broader wellbeing strategies. Their approach aligns with the wider determinants of health recognising that housing, income, and environment are as critical to health outcomes as clinical care.
Other councils, including Dudley and Manchester, have also engaged with EFP to explore how furniture poverty intersects with public health. The interest from these teams reflects a growing awareness that tackling furniture poverty is not just compassionate it’s economically prudent. By preventing crises before they escalate, councils can reduce demand on emergency services, mental health support, and social care.
In short, furniture poverty is a silent contributor to poor health and rising public costs. Addressing it is not only a moral imperative it’s a strategic investment in healthier, more resilient communities.
Practical Partnerships: How End Furniture Poverty Supports Councils
End Furniture Poverty (EFP) has emerged as a pivotal organisation in the fight against furniture poverty, not only by raising awareness but by offering tangible, strategic support to councils across the UK. Their work with North Tyneside Council stands as a model of what can be achieved when local government and specialist organisations collaborate effectively.
North Tyneside: A Long-Standing Commitment
North Tyneside Council has operated a furnished tenancy scheme since 1996, offering essential furniture to tenants as part of their housing package. This scheme, supported by EFP, allows tenants to rent furniture through a service charge often covered by welfare benefits while the council handles repairs and replacements. The model is both compassionate and financially sound.
A cost-benefit analysis conducted in partnership with EFP revealed a remarkable £12 return on every £1 invested. The benefits included:
Reduced rent arrears
Lower void turnaround costs
Improved tenant satisfaction
Savings on crisis support and social care
Reduced social isolation and improved mental health outcomes
As Ian Rice, Service Manager at North Tyneside, explained:
“Offering somebody the means to afford the basic furniture items as part of their tenancy is something we’re very keen to continue… and we can see the benefits of taking part.”
Liverpool and Greater Manchester: Scaling Collaborative Impact
EFP’s work in Liverpool is particularly notable. Despite the city not owning its own housing stock, EFP facilitated collaboration among local housing associations. Today, 85% of Liverpool’s stock providers have introduced or are introducing furnished tenancies, easing pressure on local welfare schemes and improving tenant outcomes.
In Greater Manchester, EFP is working with a consortium of councils to replicate this success. Their approach is rooted in collaboration, strategic planning, and practical logistics.
Furniture Flex: A Game-Changer for New Schemes
One of the most innovative solutions EFP has developed is the Furniture Flex model. This allows landlords to rent furniture from a supplier and then sub-rent it to tenants eliminating the need for upfront capital investment. It’s a scalable, affordable solution for councils and housing associations looking to launch new schemes. Claire Donovan emphasised:
“We would say it’s absolutely worth looking at. We’re here to help and support at every step of the way.”
Practical Support for Councils
End Furniture Poverty offers a comprehensive suite of resources and advisory services to councils, including:
A Blueprint for Furniture Provision in Social Housing: This guide covers everything from operational logistics to staffing, service charge structures, and procurement.
Peer Learning and Networking: EFP facilitates introductions between councils such as connecting North Tyneside with Manchester to share best practice and lived experience.
Policy Advocacy: EFP has influenced national consultations, including the Decent Homes Standard, which now proposes mandatory flooring in habitable rooms and a best practice guide for furniture provision.
Strategic Advice: They work with MPs, ministers, and metro mayors to embed furniture poverty solutions into housing strategies.
Support with Funding Models: EFP is actively engaging with the DWP to ensure furniture and appliances are included in the new Crisis and Resilience Fund guidance.
Advice for Other Local Authorities
For councils considering how to respond to furniture poverty, Claire Donovan’s message is clear: don’t let past experiences or outdated perceptions hold you back.
“Sometimes landlords have a dim and distant memory of a furnished tenancy scheme from 20 years ago,” she noted, “and for whatever reason, it might not have worked for them or they decided not to do it. We would say have a fresh look.”
End Furniture Poverty (EFP) offers more than just advocacy; they provide a comprehensive, practical blueprint for furniture provision in social housing. This guide, soon to be relaunched at the Housing Community Summit, includes detailed advice on logistics, staffing, procurement, service charge modelling, and operational delivery. It’s designed to demystify the process and make implementation achievable, even for councils with limited resources.
One of the most innovative tools in EFP’s arsenal is the Furniture Flex model. This approach allows landlords to rent furniture from suppliers and then sub-let it to tenants eliminating the need for upfront capital investment. It’s a flexible, scalable solution that makes furnished tenancies financially viable, especially for councils and housing associations launching new schemes. Claire emphasised the importance of collaboration, citing successful partnerships in Liverpool, Greater Manchester, and North Tyneside.
“The sector is so collaborative… the important thing is to take that first step.”
EFP actively facilitates peer learning, connecting councils to share insights, challenges, and successes. Ian Rice, for example, has been introduced to colleagues in Manchester to help them learn from North Tyneside’s long-running scheme.
Ian’s advice to senior officers is equally pragmatic. “Be open-minded… look at the models that are available… and make sure it’s affordable for tenants.” He stressed the importance of robust evidence to support the case for furnished tenancies, especially in the face of political change, budget pressures, and shifting cabinet priorities. Councils must be able to demonstrate social value, tenant satisfaction, and financial sustainability to maintain support for these schemes.
Looking Ahead
Claire outlined EFP’s ambitions for the coming year with clarity and purpose. The organisation aims to increase the proportion of furnished social homes from 2% to 10% a target grounded in both data and practical experience.
“Only about 2% of social homes are let as furnished compared to 29% in the private rental sector… we believe that should be around 10%.”
This 10% figure is not arbitrary. It reflects the proportion of tenants living in deep furniture poverty those without three or more essential items and aligns with the natural uptake seen in long-running schemes. It’s a realistic, evidence-based goal that could transform lives at scale.
To achieve this, EFP is working with MPs, ministers, metro mayors, and local authorities to embed furniture provision into housing strategies. Their influence is already being felt. The recent Decent Homes Standard consultation includes a proposed requirement for flooring in all habitable rooms and a best practice guide for furniture provision both driven by EFP’s advocacy. They’re also engaging with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure furniture and appliances are included in the guidance for the new Crisis and Resilience Fund. This is a critical step. At present, too many councils rely on overstretched third-sector organisations to meet furniture needs. EFP’s goal is to ensure that local authority discretionary crisis support includes furniture as a core component.
Final Thoughts
Furniture poverty is a silent crisis one that affects millions but receives little attention. It’s not just about missing items; it’s about missing opportunities, missing dignity, and missing stability. As Claire poignantly noted, “There is no single solution to furniture poverty beyond ending poverty.” But while that broader goal remains, there is much that can be done now.
Through collaborative action, strategic investment, and a renewed commitment from local authorities, we can begin to furnish futures with dignity, stability, and hope. The tools exist. The evidence is clear. The partnerships are forming. What’s needed now is leadership the willingness to take that first step.
