Rents started this year 3% up on what they were 12 months ago, according to LSL, parent company of Your Move and Reeds Rains.

The average monthly rent in England and Wales stood at £767 in December compared with £745 in December 2013.

There was a tiny 0.1% fall in rents between November and December.

Adrian Gill, director of Reeds Rains and Your Move, said the fall was “much less” than the usual seasonal fall.

He said: “There appears to be a new fire in the rental market as we enter 2015.

“Demand for homes to let is hotter than we would normally expect at this time of year.”