Tenants in an area with one of the steepest average rises in private rents in the UK have said it's worth the money as a "dream" place to live.

People renting in Richmond upon Thames said they felt they reaped the benefits of the money they paid to live in the borough, including proximity to outstanding schools, nature, the River Thames and good transport links.

The borough is one of 51 council areas where the average monthly cost of renting privately rose by at least £100 in the 12 months to August, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Camden saw the largest increase in the UK at £292 a month, up 11.6 per cent, with it now costing an average of £2,793 a month to rent privately in the borough.

In Richmond, the average private rent has increased by £216 a month – a 10.7 per cent hike. Tenants told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that while it is expensive to rent in the borough, they felt it was worth the money for the benefits.

Lauren Brown, 45, rents a home owned by The Richmond Charities, which helps to fund almshouses for elderly people.

Lauren Brown, 45, in Richmond (Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

She said she was lucky to have an "amazing deal" which meant her rent had only risen by £150 in five years, but that she would pay more to live in the borough.

"It's fantastic. It's a dream. I love living here," Lauren said. "I would still pay like £1,000 more a month to live here actually, but I'm really lucky I got this place and it's not increased much."

Among the benefits to living in Richmond were "safety, convenience, good shops, nice neighbours, good dog walks, Richmond Park, the river," Lauren told the LDRS.

She said her local area was like a "little community, everyone on the street talks to each other, and it's like a village more than London, so it's very nice".

Maria, 41, who did not wish to give her surname, said she had lived in a rented property with her two children in Richmond for three years, like many families she knew.

She said they had a good quality of life in the area, with outstanding schools for her children.

Out of all the boroughs, Maria described Richmond as the "best one in London".

Ray Betts, 35, said his rent had risen since moving to a home closer to the Thames in Richmond three years ago.

Ray Betts, 35, in Richmond (Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

He said there were many benefits to living in the borough, but he felt the high costs had pushed some people out.

Ray said: "I've been here a long time so I'm used to it, the gym and the park and the river and stuff like that. It's probably expensive but I like here."

But he added: "I think [rent] has risen a lot because I've got a lot of people [I know] who are moving away, so maybe they find that."

Zijing Huo, 35, bought a property in East Twickenham in 2023 after renting for three years. She said: "It's a life plan. We also want to have a baby so the schools around here are really good, so I think that's why property and renting is high."

She said she enjoyed living in the borough as it was "between the city and the countryside, so you have Richmond Park and all the great parks like Marble Hill Park… and you still have the train and the Tube".

Zijing Huo, 35, in Richmond (Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

The darker side of affluence

While the borough appears popular among private tenants, rising rents are placing increasing pressures on those who are struggling – particularly people at risk of homelessness.

Those who are evicted by private landlords often find themselves in a rental market that's far more expensive and competitive than when they last had to house hunt.

Richmond Council told the LDRS the private rented sector was one of the leading causes of housing instability in the borough, but that it was working to secure more sustainable and affordable housing for those in need.

A spokesperson said: "Richmond Council recognises the pressures that rising private rents are placing on residents, particularly those at risk of homelessness.

"The private rented sector is now one of the main drivers of housing instability in the borough, and securing affordable accommodation remains a challenge, with rents often exceeding Local Housing Allowance rates.

"While people on the housing register are usually seeking longer-term solutions, we are also seeing private tenancy issues, including no-fault evictions. In these situations, we ensure support is available through our homelessness services.

"We are committed to supporting residents in need of housing and we are working with partner organisations to increase access to sustainable and affordable housing."

Overall, average private rents in the UK rose by £73 a month to £1,348 in the 12-month period covered by the ONS figures – with this increase working out at an extra 5.7 per cent that people are having to find.

Separate figures from the ONS showed annual growth in employees' average earnings was 4.8 per cent in July, meaning wages are failing to keep up with rent increases.

Ben Twomey, Chief Executive at Generation Rent, said: "Homes are the foundations of our lives, but rents continue to rise faster than our wages, swallowing more and more of our income.

"High rents push people into homelessness and trap them in temporary accommodation, they pull children into poverty and prevent people from saving for the future.

"We rightly have caps on our energy and water bills, but the same protections don't exist to stop landlords from pricing us out of our homes. The Government can and must act through devolving powers to mayors to limit rent increases in their areas."

Keir Starmer's Government has so far ruled out giving the Mayor of London the power to impose rent controls.