'High rents could push us out of town'

Tenants in the least affordable place to rent in Essex said rising costs were making them consider moving as far away as the Isle of Wight.

Epping Forest was the only area in Essex where private rents exceeded more than a third of tenants' gross monthly income in the past financial year, the Office for National Statistics said.

Kordian Lück, a shop manager from Epping, told BBC News he spent half of his salary on rent for his one-bedroom flat.

"I feel like every year [rent] is getting more and more, and that's on top of the bills," he said.

He said he would possibly consider a move to the Isle of Wight or Norfolk for several reasons, including cost.

"I'm looking for a bit of a slower pace of life and work-life balance. I don't want to spend 12 hours a day working."

Katie Collins, a carer who has lived in Roydon, a village in the borough, for her whole life, said rising rents meant she was looking at moving elsewhere in Essex.

"Our rent at the minute is £1,400 a month, which is pretty much most of my wages and not leaving much for food and everything else.

"It's set to rise again next year to the point where we've had to say to our landlady we can't afford to rent our house anymore."

Akeem Callum, a chef, said he could afford to find a place of his own but instead chose to rent with his mum to save money.

"I'm quite happy to support her, like how she supported me as a baby. I'm passing that back to her," he said.

"I come home at ridiculous times, so it's just perfect for me here."

Together they live in Loughton, another town in the borough which is three stops from Epping on the Central line. Mr Callum said it was easy to commute into central London.

Eight years ago, tenants in 10 of Essex's 14 districts spent more than a third of their gross monthly income on rent.

The most affordable borough in the county in 2022-23 was Tendring, where renters paid just over a quarter of their income on rent.

Across the county, rents as a percentage of income fell to their lowest level in the past nine financial years, with only Epping Forest sitting above 33%.

It was the second most unaffordable place to rent in the east of England in 2022-23, behind Hertsmere in Hertfordshire, where residents paid 36% of their income on rent.

Although the cost to privately rent had risen, the Office for National Statistics said incomes had increased at a faster rate.

Barrie Blostone, who owns three buy-to-let properties in the area, said it was a difficult time for both landlords and tenants.

"Landlords are already pulling out of the market and trying to sell properties. In East Anglia, for every rental that's advertised, there are about 20 people looking to get in to those houses."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.