Government Urged To Act As Private Rents Rise 2.5% in 12 Months

Housing campaigners have urged the government to act after official figures showed private rents rose by an average of 2.5% across England over the past 12 months. The Office for National Statistics index of private housing rental prices show the biggest spike was in London where rents rose an average of 3.8% in the year to June 2015. Rents in Scotland and Wales rose 2.1% and 0.8% respectively. Betsy Dillner, director of Generation Rent, said: “The government might cheer zero inflation but it means very little to those of us who see any pay rises end up in our landlords' pockets.” Read more on 24dash.