More renters are experiencing difficulties getting their deposits back from landlords, according to housing charity Threshold.
More than 8,600 households received support from the charity on tenancy issues in the second quarter of the year.
New figures found that 880 households were prevented from entering homelessness, including 1,204 adults and 845 children.
Some 2,159 new clients who contacted Threshold were at-risk of homelessness.
The majority of those were at-risk as a result of their landlord's notice to sell the property, Threshold said.
It is calling on the Government to establish a Deposit Protection Scheme, as nearly 200 renters sought support on deposit retention issues.
This compares to 172 households who sought support on the issue during the same period last year.
'Cases lasting longer'
Threshold CEO John-Mark McCafferty said termination of tenancies remains the main concern.
"I think what we're seeing, and continuing to see, is a high volume of people who are renting privately who seek our support across a variety of issues," he said.
"Clearly concerns around the termination of tenancies remains the main issue facing tenants".
"We saw a slight reduction in the number of households that were prevented from entering homelessness this quarter compared to the first quarter of this year.
"This is a result of client cases lasting for a longer time period due to their complexity, meaning that we are not closing as many cases as was previously seen".
'Quick and fair return'
Mr McCafferty said movement is needed around people's deposits, as this can have a 'domino effect'.
"We have seen tenants, whose landlords have retained their deposit, go on to face challenges in moving to a new home, with some forced to return to the family home to save for a new deposit or use alternative finances to fund a new deposit," he said.
"We recognise that the Government legislated for this scheme in 2015, however the scheme was never established.
"There are renters all over the country who cannot afford to lose their deposits, nor is it right that this money be taken from them.
"While renters can challenge the deposit being unfairly retained and take the matter to the RTB, this can be a lengthy and difficult process.
"A Deposit Protection Scheme is very much needed to ensure a quick and fair return of deposits to a tenant once they finish their tenancy," he added.
Threshold's free helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am-9pm at 1800-454-454
