Tenants in properties owned by private landlords have faced the highest rise in rent since comparable records began seven years ago, official data shows.

Data showed that last year rent rose by 4%, a quarter of those said the increase happened within the last 6 months of the year. The rent increase is down to the higher energy bills which continues to squeeze budgets and the increase in mortgages. A growing proportion of people are finding it increasing difficult to afford their rent or mortgage payments rising from 27% mid-September to 31% mid-December.

Data is reported by the BBC.