AROUND one in seven private renters say they have been hit by a rent hike in recent weeks.

According to a recent survey, around 13 per cent of renters said that their rent had been increased in the last month.

The study, conducted by YouGov, also found that nearly a third of renters are spending at least half of their household income on rent with a similar number saying they constantly struggle to pay their rent.

A 38-year-old man who lives in a one bedroom flat in Brighton said: "With my budget I could only afford a one-bedroom flat in the area, so when my children stay each weekend I sleep on the sofa, my partner sleeps on a camp bed, and the kids sleep in our bed and a bunkbed in the bedroom.

“Having to move and knowing that our rent could so easily spiral again beyond our means has left my partner in a constant state of anxiety, to the point she needs professional mental health support. I just want my family to have some stability and security.”

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The man also said that he was forced out of another property after his rent was increased by £155.

The study by housing charity Shelter also suggested that 42 per cent of people had experienced a rent increase in the past year with one in ten people seeing a rise of over £100.

Shelter said its website advice on grants, loans and help to pay rent had more than 25,000 views between the start of June and the end of August.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The already high cost of renting meant tenants were on the ropes trying to keep up with rising food and energy prices. Now runaway rents will deal many renters a knock-out blow.

“Our emergency helpline advisers are doing everything they can to help people cling onto their homes. We’re at breaking point, too many families won’t be able to keep a roof over their head this winter because they won’t be able to afford to heat their home or pay their rent.”