The pace of rental inflation inched up across England, Scotland and Wales as the year began, ONS data shows.

The ONS Index of Private Housing Rental Prices for January shows UK rents rose 1.5% annually, up from 1.4% in December.

In England, private rental prices grew by 1.5% in the 12 months to January, up from 1.4% in December.

When London is excluded from England, rents increased by 1.7%.

Tenants in three English regions saw above-inflation rent rises.

The largest annual rental price increase in the 12 months to January was in the south-west at 2.3%, up from 2.2% in December.

This was followed by the east midlands at 2.2% and Yorkshire at 2%.

In contrast, the current inflation rate is 1.8%.

The lowest annual rental price growth was in the north-east, where prices increased by 0.6% annually, followed by the north-west, which saw a 1.1% rise.

Private rental prices in Wales grew by 1.3% in the 12 months to January, up from 1.2% in December, ONS said, while growth in Scotland increased by 0.6%, the same amount as a month before.

Rents were up 2.2% in Ireland.