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Over one million Britons are using credit cards to help meet mortgage and rent costs, a new set of figures show. In research carried out by YouGov for housing charity Shelter, over a million households have turned to plastic borrowing over the last 12 months in a bid to pay rent and mortgage demands. The study also showed that a rising number of young people are choosing this form of borrowing, as about 7.5 per cent of those aged between 18 and 24 have turned to cards during the past year.

However, with the majority of credit card firms reported to be charging rates of interest at between 15 and 18 per cent - a figure about 50 per cent higher than that charged on the most expensive sub-prime mortgage products - opting to meet mortgage and rent costs via plastic could well see consumers struggle to manage their finances and develop difficulties with other areas of expense such as utility bills and personal loans.

Meanwhile, those who have impaired financial ratings - including those who may have taken out bad credit loans - who use their card could struggle even more as they could be liable to pay interest of up to 40 per cent - a "staggering" five times above interest attached to the typical mortgage.

Adam Sampson, chief executive for Shelter, described the results of the study as 'shocking'. He stated: "The number of people hit by the credit crunch, interest rate hikes and unaffordable housing costs is rapidly rising. For many people trying to keep a roof over their head desperation is driving them to short-term, high-cost borrowing. Ordinary people are being forced to seek more risky and expensive ways to stave off the threat of eviction and repossession."

Mr Sampson added: "Clearly this is a huge problem which will only become more widespread as housing costs continue to rise." As a result, he advised those consumers who are struggling to meet demands for rent or mortgage payments to seek out professional advice.

Stuart Freeman, director of services at the Community Housing Advice Service, added: "There is such pressure on people's budgets that paying your mortgage or rent by credit card, then paying that card with another card is becoming the norm for many people. It leads to an ever spiraling maze of debt and eventually the credit simply runs out."

Meanwhile, the study also showed that men are slightly more likely to be developing future debt problems due to paying for property via plastic cards. Overall, seven per cent of males are making use of credit cards to make mortgage and rent repayments, compared to six per cent of females. In addition, ten per cent of those living in Wales and the Midlands utilize such a method of borrowing in an attempt to meet such costs.

However, for those households which are developing difficulties in finding enough money for mortgage and rent payments or even struggling paying back the credit card they used to meet such expenses, the taking out of a cheap personal loan may be a more cost-effective option than plastic. Earlier this year, a study carried out by Oxera for the British Bankers' Association showed that UK loans are among the cheapest borrowing products in the world. The average borrower taking out a two-year personal loan in Britain is revealed to pay some six per cent in annual interest, compared to the 11 per cent liable to those in Ireland.

Tom Dawson writes for Essentially Home Loans where visitors can apply for personal loans online, and also focuses on secured loans for UK residents. Visit today: http://www.essentiallyhomeloans.co.uk

# posted by qbnkinw : 4:43 AM