CAB offices across England and Wales dealt with 14% more housing problems between July and September this year compared to the same period of 2009.
The overall rise in housing problems was fuelled by a 22% increase in enquiries about actual or threatened homelessness, from 20,289 to 24,720.
In addition, it saw enquiries about rent arrears to private landlords rose from 5,876 to 7,020.
Problems with access to accommodation also rose 20% from 8,305 to 9,952.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of the CAB, said: “Housing has always been one of the top four issues dealt with by the CAB, but this big increase in the number of homelessness enquiries we are seeing is very worrying.
“The rapid growth in rent arrears to private sector landlords should also ring loud alarm bells with the government, MPs and local councils as they consider the likely impact of the big cuts to housing benefit that are looming.”
Guy added that most private tenants she had seen were in low paid jobs, with incomes of less than £1,000 a month or had lost their job during the recession and fallen into debt.
She warned: “Many are already struggling to meet a shortfall between housing benefit payments and their rent. The planned cuts could tip tens of thousands more individuals and families into rent arrears, putting them at real risk of homelessness.”
The CAB also revealed significant increase in enquiries for priority debts, including council tax debt, which rose by 11% from 38,832 to 42,941, this year.
