In the midst of widespread rent increases across England and Wales, renters are still struggling to pay, according to the Deposit Protection Service's (DPS) recent survey. The survey, which received responses from more than 2,000 tenants, revealed that almost a quarter (23%) of respondents reported difficulties in paying their rent.

The DPS, as the UK's largest protector of deposits, further highlighted that more than half (51%) of respondents were worried about not being able to manage their rental payments in the future. The survey also found that 33% of tenants have experienced rent increases in the past 12 months, with 27% claiming that their rent has increased by a quarter compared to the previous year.

For tenants moving to a new property, the survey reported that 62% were paying a higher rent than they were expecting. Similarly, 64% of respondents stated that they have had to make financial sacrifices to meet their increased rent.

Furthermore, the DPS also highlighted that 30% of respondents who had moved property during the past year reported taking on additional work to cover their rent payments. Meanwhile, 45% of non-movers stated that they have experienced increases in their rent during the past 12 months.

Matt Trevett, managing director at The DPS, expressed concern over the survey results, stating that "these results suggest that rent rises are taking place across the country and are clearly affecting moving and non-moving tenants alike.

“As a result, some tenants are making significant lifestyle and financial adjustments to continue renting or secure their next property. A significant proportion are telling us that they are reaching the limits of what they can afford as a result of the combination of higher-than expected rents, food and energy costs and are expressing concerns about the future should their rent rise further.”

The survey also revealed that almost half (49.91%) of moving tenants said they were paying between £51 to £200 more a month than expected, with 18.6% paying an additional £201-£300. Meanwhile, 7.33% reported paying over £501 a month more, with just 3.04% experiencing a rent rise of £50 a month or less.

Regarding tenants who moved last year, 28% gave various reasons for the move. Of these, 30% cited the sale of rental property, while 16% reported changed circumstances. Meanwhile, 9% said they were moving after receiving notice to leave the property.

41% of movers said they had found it challenging to secure a new rental. The main reasons included affordability (26%), a shortage of suitable properties (21%), and current high demand (18%). Additionally, 27% of tenants reported renting a property not suitable for their needs.

Finally, 26% of respondents who had moved during the past year said their commuting times had increased as a result of their move, with 11% saying their children had to move to a different school.