Protecting the housing market means a lost generation of buyers | Money | The Guardian

Protecting the housing market means a lost generation of buyers | Money | The Guardian

Rents have risen to an all time high after the "strongest" April on record, crowed the biggest letting agency in the country this week. Great if you're a greedy landlord, but yet another dollop of misery for tenants, few of whom are enjoying pay rises, and all of whom are seeing food and fuel bills rise relentlessly.

Rents are now 4.4% higher than a year ago across the UK, according to LSL Property Services, which owns Your Move and Reeds Rains. The picture is worst in London where rents are now 7.9% higher than a year ago.

The Jenga tower that is the British property market (economy rubbish, real incomes falling, house prices remaining at near record levels and rents rising) wobbles but just won't fall over. There are simply too many interests – from the banks and existing homeowners through to landlords – determined to keep it standing at any cost.