RENTERS are being “left to fend for themselves,” with thousands forced to choose between paying their landlord or putting food on the table, new research suggests.

A poll conducted by Opinium and published yesterday shows that six in 10 people who rent their homes have been hit financially by the anti-coronavirus lockdown.

Of those, one in five said they are having to choose between buying food or paying rent.

The findings have prompted fresh calls for the government to introduce rent suspensions.

London Renters Union said that the government’s current measures to protect tenants such as the eviction ban do not go far enough.

“While the temporary evictions ban is welcome, the government’s failure to take action on rents is leaving renters to fend for themselves,” said campaigner Amina Gichinga.

“Many people feel unable to prioritise buying food over paying rent and feel they have no choice but to break social-distancing guidelines so they can go out to work just so they can make rent.”

About one in five households in Britain — 4.5 million families — live in private rented accommodation, with a similar amount in social housing.