It has been claimed by Generation Rent that over this year half of private tenants have had to pay increased rents.

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The activist group also said that the majority of tenants affected by rent increases had to pay over £50 more.

Baroness Alicia Kennedy – leader of the activist group - says: “After the government acted to cap social rent increases, and improve the terms of Support for Mortgage Interest, private renters remain vulnerable to unaffordable rent increases that could force them out of their homes.

Generation Rent is calling on the government to freeze rents, suspend no-fault evictions and link Local Housing Allowance to market rents.”

The activists group’s survey was held with its own members, somewhat conveniently so no doubt slightly skewed, shows that 50 per cent who had lived in their rented ‘home’ for no longer than twelve months had rent increases during 2021, this has risen from 45 per cent when a similar ‘survey’ was held.

The amount for rent increases has also risen as the latest survey reported 46 per cent of tenant members’ monthly extra rent was £50 plus , whereas in July it was 42 per cent who had to pay more than £50 extra.

Currently 20 per cent of respondents who are now paying higher rents stated in the survey that they have had to drastically cut[JS1]  down their usual spends because of the higher rent, and again this is an increase in numbers from July when 17 per cent reported they had to cut spending.

Generation Rent asked its surveyed members what reason did their landlord tell them the rent would be higher. The number one answer at 40 per cent was “higher market rents”, runner up with 19 per cent was “cost of living”, followed by 17 per cent with “letting agent advice”.

The group also makes another ‘solid’ claim that in spite of the continual interest rates’ hikes only 11 per cent of respondents said their landlord told them it was because of “higher mortgage payments”.

Generation Rent is back on the same old hymn sheet calling for the government to immediately freeze rents, put Section 21 evictions on hold for the time being and ‘match’ the local housing allowance to localities’ market rents.

Baroness Kennedy says: “Despite the support package around utility bills, private renters are becoming increasingly anxious about paying their rent. While it is possible to negotiate, renters know in the current climate landlords have them over a barrel.

“Landlords can ask their tenants to pay the going market rent or use a no-fault eviction to force them into the ultra-competitive lettings market.