ARLA confirms private rented sector is continuing to grow

Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) operations manager Ian Potter said that landlords can take out rental protection insurance that covers their income, while tenants struggling to meet payments also need support.

His comments come after Arla research indicated that 28 per cent of those people who let out their property have seen an increase in the number of tenants who are finding it difficult to meet rent payments.

"Rental arrears is more common during a recession as redundancies occur and tenants' financial stability changes," Mr Potter explained.

A study published this week by the National Landlords Association found that nearly 75 per cent of landlords have experienced rental arrears in the past.

Of these, 43 per cent have reported such problems in the last 12 months as unemployment levels in the UK have risen.