RENTAL properties in Dudley are more affordable despite the ongoing housing crisis, new figures show.

Office for National Statistics figures show private renting households across the country actually spent a smaller proportion of their gross income on rent in 2022-23 than in any year since records began in 2014-15.

Figures show the average private renting household in Dudley spent 23 per cent of their gross income on rent in 2022-23 – down from 28.1 per cent in 2021-22.

Nationally, the proportion of gross income private-renting households spent on rent fell from 36.5 per cent to 34.2 per cent.

This is because, although private rents have risen significantly since 2015, wages have outstripped rent increases.

An area is deemed "affordable" when households spend 30 per cent or less of their income on rent.

It means private rental properties nationwide are deemed unaffordable at current rates, although that is not the case in Dudley.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: "A third of private renters are paying half or more of their income on rent. For many of these renters, any rise in rent is as good as an eviction."

She said the Government must protect renters from unexpected jumps in rent and rein in in-tenancy rent increases.

Ella Nuttall, senior policy and research officer at youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, said: "Building genuinely affordable housing, including a great deal more social homes, along with reforming the rental sector will be key to ending the housing crisis – and so far, the Government has made the right noises."

ONS figures show the median private rent in Dudley has remained "affordable" since records began in 2014-15.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "We are in the worst housing crisis in living memory, with rent levels unaffordable for far too many tenants.

"Our Renters’ Rights Bill will fundamentally reform the private rented sector to address this, empowering tenants to tackle unreasonable rent hikes and banning unfair bidding wars.

"This Government will also build 1.5 million homes to help us turn the tide, while our mandatory housing targets will ensure that more homes are delivered in the least affordable areas."