Rent in the Forest of Dean rose 7% over the past year, new figures show.

Propertymark, a membership organisation for estate agents, said persistent rental inflation "points to a system struggling to meet demand".

Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics show the average private rent in the Forest of Dean reached £837 per month in the year to October – up 7% from £782 a year prior.

It was also up 36% from an estimated £616 a month five years ago.

Valuation Office Agency rent officers collect prices from a variety of sources, including landlords and letting agents, with the aim to collect data on approximately 10% of the market.

Across the South West, the average rent was £1,214 – rising 6% from the year before.

Bristol had the highest rental cost in the region a

See Full Page