Newly published figures reveal that average private sector rents have risen by 1% in the past year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that privates rents in England rose by an average of 1%, in Scotland by 1.4% and by 0.4% in Wales over the last twelve months to September 2014.

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The figures seems to goes against a "widely-held belief" that rents are increasing greater than wages, according to reports.

According to the ONS, earnings rose by 1.2% in the year to August.

London rents rose by the most, increasing by 1.5% in the year to September, however, this is down from a previous rent peak of 2.5% in the same period in 2012. The lowest increase came in the north west at just 0.3%.

There has been a total average rent increase of 4.5% in England since the ONS began tracking the figures. Also showing a 2.8% rise in Wales and 4/1% in Scotland since January 2011.

(MH/CD)