The problem with rents is that successive governments have increased the tax burden on landlords over the years so that any rent increase is a direct responce to those government interventions. Like having to pay tax as an income on the outgoings and now the new +2% tax on landlord profits, or not being able to refuse pets = increase in rent to pay for wear and tear that can not be taken from rental deposit as its wear and tear and not "damage". So more and more private landlords are selling up -- guess what - that leads to less homes available for rent and what do you think the effect that has on the remaining available homes to rent