This research comes alongside recent polling from the NEF which highlights how many tenants are coping with soaring rents, worsening property conditions and unacceptable treatments by landlords.

Some 40 per cent of private tenants that moved within the last year are paying an average £1,200 a year above rate that was initially advertised.

More than 20 per cent of these tenants have seen their landlords raise the rent mid-way through the tenancy without agreement.

Nearly 20 per cent of tenants polled have reported concerns about the environmental standards of the property to their local council with poor conditions potentially leading to costly energy bills and repairs down the road.

This comes after the Government pledged that the local housing allowance would be raised to make sure those claiming Universal Credit or Housing Benefit will be able to cope with hiked private rents.

In November 2023, private rent prices in the UK rose by 6.2 per cent year-on-year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The NEF highlighted that this relief will be welcome for many but the new rates of support will be frozen from April.

According to the think tank, more public funds should be invested in affordable social housing instead of propping up a “broken” private sector.