Brighton and Hove renters hit paydirt

Brighton and Hove is nearly the best city in the UK if you have any rooms to rent, and the worst city if you're looking for one.

According to the latest research from flatsharing website easyroommate.co.uk, an analysis of over 86,000 room rentals around the country finds that the average number of potential tenants competing for each rental room on the market is now 3.4 – down from 4.1 in the height of the 2011 summer. 

Figures from over 50 of the UK's largest towns and cities reveals competition for rental room has been fiercest in Cambridge, with an average of nearly than 12 potential tenants registering per room.

The South East was the most competitive region in total, with three cities in the top five, featuring London (6.7 renters per room), Brighton & Hove (6.1 renters per room) and Oxford (5.6 renters per room).

The concentrated demand has pushed up rents in these areas, with the average cost of a room in Cambridge 25% above the national average, 20% higher in Brighton and Hove, 16% in Oxford and 48% higher in London.

"There are currently 17,000 fewer first-time buyers able to secure mortgages each month than before the credit crunch," said
 Jonathan Moore, director of easyroommate.co.uk, "and this will continue to drive demand for cheaper rental accommodation."

"In top hotspots like Cambridge, homeowners are making an average of £5,460 per year, with the first £4,250 tax free – making a sizeable dent in mortgage repayments."