Towns and cities such as Rickmansworth, Oxford and Brighton have overtaken parts of London as the most unaffordable places in the country to rent privately.

According to the National Housing Federation, Three Rivers in Hertfordshire – the local authority area which covers the towns of Rickmansworth and Chorleywood – is now the most unaffordable place outside London, with private rent swallowing up more than half of people’s gross wages.

Oxford, Brighton and parts of south Buckinghamshire are also more unaffordable than London boroughs such as Greenwich and Lewisham.

Although all the top 20 most unaffordable places to rent outside London are in the south, rental affordability is also an issue elsewhere. In Leeds, for example, rent swallows up 40% of wages.

Top 20 most unaffordable places to rent outside London