Tenants ‘need more security’

Tenants need more security through five-year contrasts as a growing number of people rent, housing charity Shelter has said.

Rising rents may already be making matters harder for tenants in debt and things could get worse for those who get evicted and need to find somewhere else – often with a higher cost.

Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said: "Campbell Robb With the possibility of eviction with just two months' notice and constant worries about when the next rent rise will hit, the current rental market is not giving people – particularly families – the stability they need."

He said the move would not only reassure people who rent, but also ensure security for landlords.

The issue of stability for those who rent has become increasingly important as the number who cannot afford to buy a home has grown.

High rental costs are putting a greater squeeze on consumers in some parts of the country than others.

Research published by Endsleigh last month revealed the average monthly rent in London was £1247.63 last year, with Watford second on £1,060.

The cheapest was Swansea at £398.50.

By James Francis