Nathan Emerson, the Propertymark chief executive, has renewed demands on the government to help redress the imbalance between demand and supply in the private rental sector.

In the trade body’s latest lettings market snapshot, some 54% of member agents report static rents, despite the fact that each available lettings property attracts an average of seven rival prospective tenants.

Emerson comments: “Rent levels in some areas across the country are being forced to drop as many renters are being pushed to their limits when it comes to long-term affordability. With the ongoing legislative and regulatory pressures placed on investors, this is causing a lack of supply against a backdrop of growing demand. 

“This long-standing issue needs to be addressed to provide a sustainable and effective private rented sector, and this can only be achieved by incentivising rather than penalising good landlords who provide crucial homes to the nation.” 

Propertymark has voiced criticism of several recent initiatives from the government which will directly or indirectly ramp up costs for landlords.

The Propertymark report also shows that rental arrears have dipped in recent months.