The poll of 4,000 adults found one-in-five rent or mortgage payers had borrowed money to cover their housing costs while 2% had turned to the high cost short-term payday loans to avoid defaulting on payments.

One-in-four people said they would feel too ashamed to ask for help if they couldn’t pay their rent or mortgage while 40% wouldn’t admit if they were struggling with their housing costs to family or friends.

Last year the number of people helped by Shelter because they couldn’t pay their rent or mortgage rose by almost a third.

But the charity is warning that for every person turning to Shelter for help, many will be keeping their rent or mortgage problems hidden.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Sky-high housing costs, stagnating wages and the high cost of living have taken their toll.

“The economy as a whole might be on the up, but losing our home could now be a frighteningly real prospect for any one of us.

“We’re now hearing from record numbers of families up and down the country who are desperately struggling to keep the roof over their heads. But the truth is we’re more worried about the people we don’t see.

“Our message today is don’t keep your worries to yourself: Shelter’s expert advisers can be the difference between keeping your home and losing it.”