Rental surge in rural areas putting pressure on English councils, warns report

Households renting outside cities rose by 19% with 450,000 more privately letting in 2021 compared with 2011

A dramatic rise in the number of renters in rural areas has prompted England's largest councils to call for a new long-term plan for housing.

The number of households in private and social rentals has increased by more than half a million in rural areas over the past decade, outpacing London and major cities, according to a report from the County Councils Network.