Cases of arrears among private tenants have fallen dramatically.

According to receivers Templeton LPA, part of LSL, severe arrears have fallen by 35% in the last 12 months.

It says there are now 68,000 rented households seriously behind with their rent, compared with a mid-2012 peak of over 116,000.

The firm also says that the number of landlords in mortgage arrears is at its lowest level since mid-2008, and the number of court orders for evictions is also down.

Tenants owing more than two months’ rent now represent 1.4% of all tenancies in the UK, down from 2.3% of all tenancies a year ago.