| Private rents in England unaffordable, says Shelter |
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Private rents are now unaffordable in 55% of local authorities in England, the housing charity Shelter has said.
Homes in these areas cost more than 35% of median average local take-home pay - the level considered unaffordable by Shelter's Private Rent Watch report. The charity said 38% of families with children who rent privately have cut back on buying food to help pay rent. Housing Minister Grant Shapps said it had curbed red tape "which would have pushed up rents and reduced choice". Shelter's research found rents had risen at one-and-a-half times the rate of incomes in the 10 years up to 2007. |
