Renters in the UK face more financial strain after the average private monthly rent surged 9.1 per cent to record highs last month, according to official figures, writes David Connett.

The increase topped October's rise of 8.7 per cent and nudged close to the record high annual rise of 9.2 per cent recorded in March 2024.

London's tenants were hit hardest, with a rise of 11.6 per cent in the 12 months to November.

The average private rent in Britain was £1,319 (€1594) per month in November - £110 higher than in November 2023, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

In England, the average was £1,362, up 9.3 per cent (£116) - a record high - from a year earlier.

Within England, rental price inflation was highest in London and lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber (5.7 per cent) over the period.

The average rent in Wales was £772 in November, up 8 per cent from a year earlier. This rise was higher than in the 12 months to October (7.9 per cent).

In Scotland, the average rent was £980 last month, a rise of 6.5 per cent from a year earlier. This annual rise was lower than in the 12 months to October (6.6 per cent).

In Northern Ireland, where data are currently only available up to September, the average rent increased by 9 per cent in the year.

Aimee North of the ONS said: "The average private rent in Great Britain [is] now around £1,300 per month. Average rent increases continue to be highest in London while annual rent inflation reached a record high for England."

Nathan Emerson, the chief executive of estate agents body Propertymark, said the lettings market remained "challenging".

"Ultimately the sector is about to undergo one of the biggest evolutions in over 30 years with a raft of legislation proposed that will fundamentally alter the viability for some landlords to even operate," he said.

"It remains important the Government encourages a diverse mix of housing options, especially as demand in the rental sector is expected to considerably expand across the next 10 years.

"It is crucial there is sensible support that encourages long-term investment in rental properties, and that both tenants and landlords are treated with equal fairness to keep a objective oversight on a system that is under additional pressure to keep pace with increasing demand."

The average UK house price increased by 3.4 per cent in the 12 months to October, the ONS said, up from 2.8 per cent in the year to September. Across the UK, the average house price in October was £292,000.