Housing costs giving over a quarter of people sleepless nights

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Finance, Health

One in four people in Scotland are losing sleep over the stress of housing costs, a new survey has revealed.

Shelter Scotland's research found that 28% of respondents think house prices are causing them to suffer anxiety and depression.

The research, which was carried out by YouGov, showed that the struggle to pay rents and mortgages is affecting relationships, with 27% of people admitting that housing cost worries are causing arguments with their partner and other family members.

The survey also found that more people in Scotland say they have lost sleep from the stress of paying for their home than people in England and Wales.

The results follow research earlier this month from the housing and homelessness charity which showed that 1.5 million rent or mortgage payers in Scotland are constantly struggling to keep up with their payments.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "These findings reveal the heartbreaking reality of over a million families and individuals living on a knife edge, worrying about paying their rent or mortgage.

"Behind closed doors they face stress, sleepless nights and strained relationships as they desperately struggle to afford their housing bills.

"With little or no chance of things getting better any time soon our worry is that even more families will face the human tragedy of homelessness this year."