Over three million UK households are living on a knife-edge where even a small drop in income could cost them their home, it has been reported.

New analysis of government data by the University of St Andrews, on behalf of Shelter, found that one in eight households in the UK are surviving on low incomes while paying unaffordable housing costs, putting them under huge financial pressure.

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The research paints a worrying picture of families pushed close to breaking point, with further statistics showing that more than one in 10 working families in England have had to sell possessions to cover their housing costs.

Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive, said that too many families are living close to a financial cliff-edge: "Every day at Shelter we hear from people who, through no fault of their own, are finding it impossible to keep up with sky-high housing costs. It's terrifying to think that many of us are resorting to avoiding bills or selling possessions in a desperate bid to make ends meet."

(CD/JP)