Immigrants push up rents in Britain

The influx of immigrants from European Union accession countries has led to the largest rise in British rents in at least eight years, a survey shows.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' found in the three months to the end of July, 30 per cent more surveyors reported a rise in rents than a fall, up from 20 per cent in April.

Pressure on rents has been excerbated by the more than 400,000 East European workers allowed to work in the UK since their home countries joined the EU in 2004.

The average UK rent was £787 ($2355) a month in January. Excluding London - which commands the highest monthly rent of £1804 - the average was £566.

- REUTERS