Debt advice charity helpline National Debtline has seen an 84% increase in the number of people calling for help with rent arrears since the credit crunch began in 2007.

The English Housing Survey released in February showed that the number of people renting in England had increased by around 40% since 2005.

Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, which runs National Debtline, said: “It is clear high rent costs are becoming more and more difficult for people to meet. A few years ago many people in today’s rent market would be planning on buying their first home