Gap between average rents in north and south of England shrinks to lowest level

Rents in the north have risen by an average of 9.6% over the past year. Photograph: eye35.pix/Alamy

The gap in rents paid by those in the north and south of England has closed to its lowest level in at least 11 years, figures have shown.

In its latest monthly lettings index, the property company Hamptons reported that the average rent paid by tenants in the north of England in August was £960 a month, an increase of 9.6% compared with the same period last year.