Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Kent rents are unaffordable
With house prices soaring across Kent, many young people are losing hope of ever being able to save up a deposit to buy a property.
The alternative is to rent – but that is becoming increasingly difficult, with some residents now even opting to move as far as Wales to find somewhere more affordable.
Analysis by this paper reveals that in half of the county’s towns, there are no houses available to rent for less than £1,000 per month.
Meanwhile, in some areas there aren’t any available at all.
One Kent MP has described the situation as “extremely concerning”, while estate agents admit “there’s very little around at sensible prices”.
The average rent for a house in Kent is now £1,445pcm [per calendar month], according to property website home.co.uk
And with median take-home pay in the county at about £1,650 a month, it’s clear why single-income households are becoming increasingly rare.
It also highlights why almost a third of people aged 20 to 34 are still living with their parents.
We asked residents across the county whether they are now being priced out of renting.
Kayleigh Parnham is currently renting a three-bed house near Maidstone town centre for £1,200 a month. But in a few weeks’ time she will be moving more than 200 miles away to Wales.
“It’s just impossible to aspire – as a single parent working fulltime – to have any quality of life outside from paying rent,” the 34-year-old said.
“You have got no hope of putting a deposit aside to buy your own house or of saving or doing anything.”
Miss Parnham, who works as a cover teacher and has always lived in Kent, says she has looked “everywhere” in the local area for alternative accommodation. But when factoring in the cost of petrol for commuting, nothing is affordable.
“Overall I love Maidstone, but I just can’t afford to live here,” she said.
Miss Parnham says a friend who found herself in a similar situation moved to a town in Wales – so she has decided to follow suit, successfully applying for a council house.
“She said it was the best thing she ever did,” said Miss Parnham.
“They can breathe a bit easier now and go out as a family for a day. I wish I could do that with my family.”
After making the life-changing decision, Miss Parnham broke the news to her children: Alex, 12, Ellie, 11, and Kaitlynn, eight.
“For the first 24 hours they were very sceptical but now they are very excited,” Miss Parnham
said.
“It’s sad to leave Maidstone, but it’s an extension of London now unfortunately, and wages/ assistance doesn’t cover it.
“Moving to places like the north, south, west or Wales, you can find homes the same size for less than half the price.
“Moving is scary, but we are looking forward to being able to breathe again and really live.”
Miss Parnham’s experience of “extortionate” rents is echoed by others in Maidstone and across the whole county.
Posting on the Kent Messenger
Facebook page, Evelyn Neill said she had been renting a three-bed house in Maidstone last year for £1,025 a month.
She has since moved out and says the new tenants are paying £1,500.
Angela Barlow said her rent had gone up by £100 a month, but her wages haven’t.
Many people praised their landlords – with some not raising rents over the space of 10 years.
But Nichola Plunkett, posting on the Thanet Extra Facebook page, said: “Mine stayed the same for the first two years of
renting but since then it’s been going up each year and I’m dreading what it’s going to go up to this year.
“If it goes up too high I will be forced to look elsewhere.”
Meanwhile Naomi Bath, from Herne Bay, said her monthly rent has gone up by £180.
Writing on the Kentish Gazette Facebook page, Richard Pearson blamed the number of student homes in Canterbury for the average rent in the city for a house rising to £1,400.
Others have highlighted the insecurity which can come with renting, as landlords can serve so-called ‘no-fault’ Section 21 notices to evict tenants, with a notice period that can be as short as two months.
Liz Ballard, writing on the Kentish Express Facebook page, said: “Got served a Section 21 a couple of months ago as our landlord was selling.
“Now having to pay £1,400 a month. Absolutely crippling but had no choice.”
Billy Johnson wrote: “Moved away from Ashford. Was renting for £875 originally, then £950. Went up to £1,125.”
This paper previously revealed how property prices in Kent rocketed by £56,000 during the pandemic – the sharpest spike in 20 years.
The rise has been fuelled by Londoners looking for a change of lifestyle amid the increase in working from home.
But with the market boommoment,”
ing, many landlords are deciding to cash-in on their properties rather than keep renting them out.
This lack of supply has seen prices increase “dramatically”, according to Charlie Bainbridge, director of Charles Bainbridge estate agents, based in Canterbury.
“There is very little around at sensible prices,” he said.
The problem is exacerbated in Canterbury where many properties are used for student housing instead of being on the private rental market.
While the amount of purpose-built student accommodation is increasing, the prices are unaffordable for many young people.
Mr Bainbridge says investing in property has been made “less attractive” by recent “onerous” changes to the tax system, such as an additional 3% stamp duty for second homes.
While in theory this makes more homes available to buy, it further limits the supply of rental properties, pushing up prices.
“A lot of people are getting to the end of tenancies at the he said. “Landlords are judging this is going to be the best time to sell.
“A few properties are coming out of the rental market and across to the sales department. “That’s adding to the lack of sup“before ply. where someone
‘I was served a Section 21 as our landlord was selling – now having to pay £1,400 a month. Absolutely crippling but had no choice’