Rents in Brighton and Hove almost half average pay

Private tenants in Brighton are spending 45.5 per cent of their pay packet on rent, according to figures by the GMB union.
Brighton and HoveBrighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove

The union released figures from across the south east to highlight ‘ever rising rents’ with the public sector pay cap and the below-inflation pay rises.

It said the average rent for a two-bedroom home in Brighton and Hove is £1,150, 27.8 per cent higher than in 2011.

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But it said the average pay packet is £2,526, 45.5 per cent of the average rent for a two-bedroom property.

This is an increase from 2011, when the average rent was £900, with wages at £2,335 – with rent making up 38.5 per cent of the average pay packet. The union argued these figures show pay has to rise to allow workers to afford these ‘ever rising rents’.

GMB found in the south east as a whole, workers are spending 34.1 per cent of their earnings on rent, up from 28.7 per cent in 2011.

Paul Maloney, GMB Southern regional secretary, said: “These figures demonstrate the extent of the squeeze felt by workers and their families in the south of England since the financial crisis in 2008. Rents have surged upwards as pay has been stagnant or falling.

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“Pay has to rise to allow workers to afford these ever rising rents so the public sector pay cap and the below inflation pay rises in both the public and private sectors has to end to avoid a drop in consumer spending, which, if not checked will lead to a further recession.

“In addition, they show that a massive programme to build more homes, especially homes for rent, by the south of England authorities is absolutely essential in all parts of the region and has to get underway without delay.

“We have been talking about this problem for far too long, there can be no excuses for not providing housing to people that they can afford to live in on average wages.”

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