Tenants in the Mendip area of Somerst are facing escalating housing costs as new figures reveal rents have reached record levels since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The increase is part of a worrying trend, with many residents struggling to keep up with their payments, further exacerbating the threat of homelessness in the area.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median rent paid by tenants across 1,070 homes in Mendip in the year leading up to March was £825, an increase of 3.8% from £795 the previous year.

Before the pandemic, in March 2020, tenants paid an average of £757. The figures cover a broad spectrum of properties, from shared rooms to four-bed homes, reflecting a wide price variation.

The median measurement, the middle number in a series, has been used to ensure that extreme highs or lows don't distort the figures.

The data from the ONS goes on to show that rents in England surged by 4.9% in the 12 months leading to May, the highest rise since records started in January 2006.

Housing charity Shelter expressed grave concerns over the situation, labelling it as a "crisis like never before." The charity has placed the blame squarely on the Government's shoulders, accusing it of failing to construct enough affordable social housing.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, underscored the urgency of the issue: "Given private renters already pay the highest housing costs of anyone, and have for a long time, they're feeling the pain of the current cost of living crisis more than most."

She further stressed the need for immediate attention to ending the freeze on housing benefits and building social homes to permanently address the housing emergency.

Dan Wilson Craw, deputy director at renting campaign group Generation Rent, echoed these sentiments, insisting that "The Government's failure to act is unaffordable." He called for more social house building, Local Housing Allowance reflecting market rents, and protection for tenants from unaffordable rent hikes.

The UK Government responded to the situation, saying the forthcoming Renters Reform Bill will "deliver a fairer deal for renters in England."

The spokesperson further stated that the bill will enable tenants to challenge unjustified rent increases and will include protections against 'no-fault' evictions. They also emphasised that housebuilding is a government priority, with a commitment to building 300,000 homes annually to create a more sustainable and affordable housing market.