Just over half of landlords (52%) say they will not put rents up this year.

However, of the 45% who say they will be hiking rents, the main reason cited for the rise is new government legislation.

According to a poll of 1,054 landlords by website SpareRoom, 38% give this reason.

A further 23% say that they are increasing rents because rents locally have gone up, while 20% say it is because they have not put rents up for over a year.

SpareRoom director Matt Hutchinson said that the costs of Right to Rent legislation, changes to wear and tear, the curbing of mortgage interest tax relief, plus higher Stamp Duty costs for landlord purchasers, would all have an impact.

He said: “The worry is that tenants will bear the brunt of these changes. And if renters end up being the ones to shoulder the burden of legislative change, something has gone very, very wrong. The private rental sector is already under immense pressure.”