CAMPAIGNERS have called on the government to introduce protection from unaffordable rent rises after data revealed yesterday that private rents soared by £100 on average over the past year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that from August, the average rent across Britain had risen by 8.4 per cent to £1,286 per month over the previous 12 months.

London saw the fastest increase in rents, rising by 9.6 per cent in August, while the south-west of England saw prices climb the slowest at 6.4 per cent.