Renters paid a total of £7.7 billion more in 2012 than in 2008

The number of private renters in England rose to 3.8 million in 2012, an increase of 23% since 2008, says new report

Figures from mortgage provider Castle Trust indicate that the average annual amount paid on private rent in England increased by £572, from £7,956 in 2008 to £8,528 in 2012.

Overall, private renters in England paid a total of £7.7 billion more in 2012 than in 2008. Their analysis also suggests that the number of private renters in England reached the 3.8 million mark in 2012, up 23% from the 2008 figure of 3.1 million.

Sean Oldfield, chief executive officer, Castle Trust said: “Despite mortgage rates being well below their historic average, renting is booming as homeownership becomes more and more of a distant dream. Mortgage payments represent a significant proportion of a household’s monthly spending and many people do not see the viability of owning a home."

A report from housing charity Shelter earlier in the year showed rents are rising by an average of almost £300 a year in England with one in seven local authorities seeing rent rises of over £500 a year. The charity say that as a result, nearly three quarters of renters are unable to put aside £50 a month in savings and more than half cannot save anything at all.