THE cost of renting a home in Swindon has increased by 21 per cent over the past four years, figures have revealed.

Between April 2013 and March 2014 the median monthly rent for all houses in Swindon was £575, according to figures from the Valuation Office Agency.

But by 2017-18 that cost spiralled to £695. The average rise across England over that period was 13 per cent.

Martin Wicks of Swindon Tenants' Campaign Group said: “These figures underline the fact that Swindon’s housing crisis of affordability is getting worse. Increases in the private rented sector are higher than the national trend.

“What’s especially worrying is the impact on young people.

"With a 25 per cent increase in the rent for one-bedroom properties it’s no wonder that young people who some years back would have been able to afford to rent a flat are forced to live in shared accommodation.

“Their situation has been exacerbated by the government raising the age limit for housing benefit for one-bedroom properties from 24 to 35. They only qualify for £61 a week, the shared accommodation rate for HB.”

The data shows the monthly cost of renting a three-bedroom family home is £850. That represents a rise of 17.2 per cent since 2013-14, when the VOA first began publishing the data.

To rent a one-bedroom property tenants will pay around £595.

“The shortage of council housing forces people who cannot afford a mortgage into the private rented sector,” said Mr Wicks. “The declining number of council homes in the town - the council is building less homes that they lose through right to buy - means that many people stand no chance of getting a council tenancy.”

Dan Wilson Craw, director of pressure group Generation Rent, said: “Renters are in a bind. If they choose to live where there’s a strong jobs market they might see their pay packet gobbled up by high rents.

“If they live somewhere cheaper, either there’s a risk that it’s harder to find a stable job or they pay for it in higher commuting costs.

“The government must make renting a more secure arrangement, with restrictions on rent rises and unfair evictions, but also look at how to introduce a living rent that ordinary workers can afford.”

Lawrence Bowles, research analyst at the estate agents Savills, said: “The outlook is strong for investors.

“The current figures show rental values falling, but we’re expecting a return to growth over the next five years.

“However this is less positive for tenants.”

The UK currently has the highest number of private renters in the country’s history, more than one in five households.

By 2021 one in four people are expected to be private tenants and adults in their 20s and 30s have been nicknamed Generation Rent as soaring house prices have put buying properties out of reach.