RENTS BECOMING LESS AFFORDABLE FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN ENGLAND AND WALES

PRIVATE renters on the average household income spent 36.3% of their income on an average-priced rented home England in 2024. That's compared with 25.9% in Wales and 25.3% in Northern Ireland.

- By DAVID DUBAS-FISHER

The cost of renting is less affordable in England than a year ago, when 33.1% of the average household income went on the typical rent. In Wales and Northern Ireland things are slightly more affordable having dropped from 26.3% and 25.1% respectively.

However, compared to 2015/16, the earliest year for which comparative figures are available, private rents have become more affordable.

Back then the typical private rent made up 39.4% of the average household income. In Wales it was 31.5% and in Northern Ireland it was 25.6%.