Families are starting 2014 dogged by worries over how they can afford to pay their rent or mortgage, according to the housing charity Shelter.

Nine per cent of over 4,000 people surveyed by the charity said they will fret about keeping the roof over their heads during January as the hangover from Christmas bills kicks in.

Households with children were found to be the worst affected with more than 70 per cent of rent or mortgage payers with children saying they are either finding it tough to keep up with their payments or have fallen behind.