The charity claimed 6 per cent of respondents to its survey used credit cards for mortgage or rent payments, with this figure rising to 7.5 per cent among 18-24-year-olds.
With credit card rates much higher than mortgage rates, Shelter warned people were storing up financial problems for the future.
Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter, said: “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 heads, 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.”
Wales and the Midlands saw the highest levels of borrowing on cards with 9 per cent admitting the practice, while Scotland had the lowest levels at 3 per cent.
Men were also slightly more likely to use cards at 7 per cent, compared to 6 per cent of women.
Jenny Challenor, mortgage strategist at Torquil Clark, said: “It is easy to point the finger of blame at lenders for some consumers using their credit cards to fund mortgage payments or rent. I would raise serious doubts to this accusation. The reality is that if you want the luxury of owning your own home, then you have to expect that a large chunk of your salary may well be used to meet the repayments. For many people, this means curbing spending and putting a stop to a lifestyle you can no longer afford.”
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