Epping Forest is Essex’s least affordable place to rent, says ONS

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.”