SOFA surfing is having “horrific” effects on people’s mental and physical wellbeing, Crisis warned today.

A new report from the homelessness charity says that eight out of 10 people who have relied on the sofas or floors of friends and family have suffered from poor mental health as a result.

The report, dubbed It Was Like A Nightmare — The Reality Of Sofa Surfing In Britain Today, was based on interviews with 114 people across 12 areas in Britain.

It found that 77 per cent of sofa surfers admitted to suffering from physical problems such as extreme back and neck pain, fatigue and health complications as a result of poor diet.

Nearly two-fifths said their housing benefit could not cover their rent, which meant that they ended up relying on friends and family for shelter.

Many interviewees reported feeling like they were a “burden” on their loved ones and said that they felt “ashamed” of having to rely on others.

Crisis said that for many people sofa surfing was not “temporary” or a “stepping stone,” as around a third had done it for between six months and three years.

The charity estimates that more than 71,400 people across the country are forced to stay with others on sofas or floors because they have no stable housing arrangements.

Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes said the report should act as a “shameful reminder” to the new Conservative government that tackling homelessness must be a top priority.

He said: “We know homelessness causes untold human suffering.

“Too many people in our society are facing unbearable pressures, forced to sleep on sofas and floors night after night after night.

“The harsh reality of sofa surfing is clear to see here — people trapped in this situation with no way out and every day facing the worry that today could be the day they are asked to leave, with nowhere else to go. None of us should be forced to live this way.

“We know homelessness can be ended in the UK — but this will only be made a reality by investing in housing benefit, so it truly covers the cost of rents across the country and making sure local councils recognise sofa surfing as a form of homelessness that is eligible for assistance across the board.”