Housing Minister: Rent figures an inaccurate snapshot

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins has denied that new figures on rising rent prices reflect the private rental market, describing the research on 20,000 properties as "not an accurate snapshot of the private rented sector."

"The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics confirm rents are actually falling in real terms, both in London and across the country."

He went on: "But this Government wants a bigger and better rental market. That's why we've introduced the £1 billion Build to Rent fund, which has already identified 45 potential schemes, alongside £10 billion of Government-backed guarantees to encourage more institutional investment in the sector."

The minister also cited new measures to give tenants the "know-how to demand longer-term tenancies that cut costs and meet their needs", which he said will provide renters with improved choice and quality and encourage competition in the market.