An agents' association claims that tenants who had to face rent increases has recently fallen by 8%.

The claim is backed up by members that reported numbers of tenants experiencing rent increases during September and October fell from 58% down to 50%; however this has risen from 24% year on year.

The stats also shows that number of tenants who were able to 'agree' a rent deduction is up from 1.2% in September to October's 1.6%

However the 1.6% figure is somewhat lower than October 2018 when it was recorded to be 3.7% of tenants had successfully negotiated a lower rent.

Numbers of rental properties managed per branch rose by 8% to 201 in October up from October 2018's 198 per branch.

A spokesperson for the association, said: “This month’s figures show some temporary relief for tenants; however, while the number of landlords increasing rents has fallen, year-on-year the figure remains worryingly high.

“Even looking at the increase in the number of tenants negotiating rent reductions, which should be a positive thing, when comparing year-on-year it is less than half of what it stood at in 2018.

“For far too long, successive governments of all political persuasions have passed significant amounts of complex legislation for landlords making the buy-to-let market a less attractive investment, and this coupled with Brexit uncertainty and a looming general election has left the sector strained.

“Unfortunately, rents are likely to remain high and tenants will continue to feel the pinch.”