Rents are predicted to fall across the UK in the next few months, according to HomeLet, which said the decline was "unprecedented in recent times".

The average rent in the UK rose by just 0.7pc in the last 12 months, falling 0.4pc on a monthly basis in January.

Rental price inflation has fallen for the last seven months, and HomeLet said that at the current rate of growth, that would go into negative territory soon.

Rents have been falling in London and the south-east due to the surge in properties hitting the market after landlords purchased them before April to avoid a hike in stamp duty for buy-to-let homes. Now this decline may reach the rest of the country.