What rot, rent is cheaper because of silly house prices not mortgage rates. The rates are perfectly reasonable. Its the money for nothing mindset that caused the problem in the first place.

I certainly had no problem finding a place and the amount of rentals has doubled in the last 2 months (NI).

Tony, Belfast,

So it's June and they have only just managed to find somewhere to move into in August. Shocker! Not. Given that most tenancies required at most two months notice from landlord or tenant this is precisely what would be expected. It says nothing about the "scarcity" or otherwise of rental property.

Dom, Ealing , London

Funny this as I have not been able to rent my 1 bed in Shad Thames SE1 very easily at all for about the same price.

John Levine, London,

A very odd and misleading article, especially when it was timed to come out on the same day that the ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) issued a report that shows that rents are only just keeping up with inflation.

roger, Tunbridge wells, UK

Tina, I fully agree with your comments.
Remember though, those in the UK are used to being ripped off across the board.
Give me Dússeldorf anyday, a much higher quality of life, money in my pocket to spend down the Altstadt, rather than live in poverty in overcrowded and expensive UK

Gareth Jones, Dusseldorf, Germany

Don't worry renters - your rent is a direct function of your income/ affordability - unlike house prices which are a function of how much you can borrow over 35+ years - therefore rents have a ceiling. Soon, the rental market will be flooded with those overpriced properties nobody wants to buy!

Marie, Dublin, Ireland

Too many immigrants in this Country. Expel them and you would see rents drop immediately as they are pushing up prices by renting homes that should be going to UK citizens.

Steve, London, UK

Weird. They can have a big 2-bed 2-bath flat right next to mine if they want, for that price. Zone 2, near London Bridge, been on the market for a month now.

John, London,

No wonder it took this couple so long to find a flat if they depended on viewing websites to find suitable properties. The best properties often don't make it onto a website. Try calling and meeting the agent so they know you're serious and keep you in mind when something suitable turns up.

Mike, London,

Mike are you insane? you will never in your lifetime see rents of £200 a month or discounts of 62.5%. Post sensible comments not what you woke up dreaming.

mark connelly, surbiton, england

To Tina simple this is England the rich get richer and the poor ether starve or frezze to death, this is New England thanks to New Labour.

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

Tina makes a good point and it could soon come to pass. Rents as well as house prices are falling and there is a huge oversupply of flats. Not long before a once £240k 2 bed flat is selling for £90k and renting for £200 pm.

Mike Livingstone, Reigate, UK

Why don't the British reform their housing market? I pay £200 a MONTH for a one-bedroomed flat - including water, rates, the lady that cleans the stairwell, cellar space, bike shed, use of garden, bin men... I just have to pay the electricity bill separately.

No wonder the British are so stressed.

Tina, Dusseldorf, Germany

"One agent told Miss Waldren that at least 60 per cent of rental leases were being renewed, so no new properties were coming on to the market." Sounds like 40% should be coming onto the market then?
Don't worry renters - just a bit of short term pain. Things will change for the better very soon.

Matt, Sydney, Australia