For many social housing tenants, moving in can mean facing an empty home with no bed, sofa or white goods - and no spare cash to buy them.

Research from End Furniture Poverty shows how widespread this is:

• Around 8.1 million essential household items are missing from UK homes.
• Furniture poverty is a public health issue: 27% of people affected report severe impacts on their physical health and 32% on their mental health.
• Social renters are four times more likely to be in furniture poverty than homeowners.
• Among social renters in furniture poverty, 51% report extremely or very negative effects on their physical health, and 62% on their mental health.

Landlords and housing providers can play a vital role in guiding tenants towards practical, affordable solutions.

 

Talk about furniture from day one

Most tenancies start unfurnished, but tenants may not realise just how much they’ll need to set up home.

Landlords can help by:

• Being clear about what is and isn’t included.
• Asking what tenants already have and what they’re worried about.
• Providing a short guide (print or online) on where to find low-cost or free items.

Bringing furniture into early conversations normalises the issue and helps tenants feel less alone.

 

Share tips for furnishing on a budget

Landlords can give tenants practical ideas that make a genuine difference:

Use personal networks
Encourage tenants to ask family and friends if they’re getting rid of furniture or small appliances. Many people are happy to pass things on.

Look online for free items
Signpost to platforms like:

• Freecycle
• Freegle
• Gumtree (free listings)

These can be a source of everything from kettles to sofas.

Buy second-hand where possible
Highlight options such as:

• Local charity shops and car boot sales
• eBay and Facebook Marketplace
• The Reuse Network, which offers good-quality, affordable furniture and electricals via local projects

Shop smart when buying new
Encourage tenants to:

• Compare prices across retailers
• Look for sales and clearance sections
• Consider cashback websites when shopping online

 

Talk about grants and financial support

Many tenants are unaware of the help available. Landlords can:

Point to local council schemes
Some councils offer grants or local welfare support for essentials like beds and white goods. Tenants can check their council’s website or call to ask about hardship or household support funds.

Highlight charitable grants
Charities can sometimes help with furniture and appliances. Tenants can use the Turn2Us grants search to find schemes they may be eligible for.

Explain landlord-linked support where it exists
Where organisations run hardship funds (for example, help with beds, fridges, freezers, cookers or washing machines linked to money guidance support), landlords should:

• Make criteria and expectations clear
• Ensure staff know how to refer tenants

 

Turning empty properties into homes

Furniture poverty hits social renters hardest and has serious consequences for health and wellbeing. By talking openly, sharing practical tips and signposting to help, landlords can make it much easier for tenants to move from “just managing” in an empty space to truly feeling at home.