Landlords have had to raise rents after being hit hard by the buy-to-let clampdown on their tax allowances.

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Recent data from the ONS (Office of National Statistics) shows that from the preceding twelve months to May 2019, rents increased by an average of 0.9%, which is the biggest annual growth since September 2017.

UK tenants' rents increased annually in May by 1.3% whereas in April it was 1.2%

Northern Ireland tenants faced an annual rent increase of 2.1%

Rents increased for tenants in England by 1.3% in the 12 months to May of this year which is higher than April's 1.2% growth.

Wales experienced an annual 1.1% rent growth in May with no change since February 2019, whilst Scotland's rose by 0.8% in the twelve months up to May 2019, up from 0.7% in April.

The executive director of an organisation that represents and advises intermediary mortgage lenders, Kate Davies, said: “After filing their 2017-18 tax returns, landlords are becoming more aware that ongoing changes to mortgage interest tax relief are increasing the financial challenges facing them.

“This is leading more property investors to reconsider their options and the pressure on some to increase rental prices will be mounting. We do not see it as a coincidence that several rental indices show that, following a protracted period of softness, average rents in London are once again increasing.

“Despite the current political and economic uncertainty, we hope a change in leadership will be seen as an opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its support for landlords, which goes hand-in-hand with helping people get on the property ladder.

“Growing pressure on landlords to increase rents in order to make ends meet will ultimately have a detrimental effect on renters’ ability to save for deposits to buy their own homes.