Rural tenants hit hardest by rent rises caused by sto...

Private sector tenants in rural areas are facing the brunt of growing rents, according to new research.

Whilst some measures suggest tenants across England had an average 17 per cent increase in rent over the past year, this jumps to 27 per cent among those in rural areas.

The survey of over 2,000 private renters was carried out by the TDS Charitable Foundation.

Almost a third of tenants said it was now difficult or very difficult to afford rent each month. Among student tenants and those hit by the housing benefit rate freeze, 40 per cent said they were struggling to pay.

Over half (52 per cent) of all tenants said they regularly cut back on household essentials such as food, heating and clothing in order to pay the rent. And 40 per cent said they were struggling to afford their utility bills.

The research found that among those who had moved into a private rented property in the previous six months, 82 per cent had experienced one or more challenges in securing a suitable property. Some 48 per cent claimed they struggled to find anywhere affordable and 20 per cent found it difficult to afford the deposit required.

Whilst 44 per cent said that they would like to own their own home, around a third (35 per cent) say that they now expect to be renters most of their life.

Dr Jennifer Harris, Head of Policy and Research at TDS Group, says: “Our research paints a worrying picture of the difficulties many tenants now face in securing and affording suitable housing.

“Whilst the decision to unfreeze housing benefit rates is likely to provide some comfort, on its own it will not be the panacea renters need.

“Ahead of the election, all parties will need to work out how to improve affordability for tenants, whilst not undermining the supply of private rented housing when demand for it is so high.”