UK tenants paid average monthly rents of £775 during the first quarter of 2020, an increase of just £2 or 0.26% on the final quarter of last year, according to new data from The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS).

The DPS highlighted that its new figures covered the period immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic began to disrupt life in England and Wales, and suggested the next set of figures were likely to be affected by the UK’s Government’s advice that people should not move house as well as other policies, such as the prevention of evictions.

The latest Rent Index from The DPS revealed that London remained the most expensive place in the UK to rent, with monthly rents unchanged from £1,345 in the fourth quarter of 2019, representing 42% of tenants’ average wages.

Outside London, average monthly rents for the first quarter of the year were £679, a £7 or 1.04% increase since the final quarter of 2019, the data revealed. Furthermore, The DPS figures showed that year-on-year rents across the UK had seen a 2.38% increase of £18 in the first quarter of 2020, up from £757 in the opening quarter of last year.

The DPS managing director, Matt Trevett, commented: “Despite the stability of the rental market over the past 12 to18 months, it is likely we will see a very different pattern in the second quarter of 2020 owing to the impact of coronavirus on landlords, letting agents and tenants, although it is difficult to predict the long-term effect this will have on the industry.

“For example, some landlords are asking for advice on how to make a claim against a deposit if a tenant leaves without giving notice or how to perform check-in and check-out reports during the lockdown.

“Whether you are a tenant with sudden financial difficulties or a landlord facing changes to your income, we encourage you to communicate with one another as often as possible during this challenging time.”

Zephyr Homeloans managing director, Paul Fryers, added: “Under the mortgage payment holiday scheme announced by the Chancellor on 17 March, eligible buy-to-let landlords may apply to defer their loan payments if they cannot make their mortgage obligations because their tenant is unable to pay rent as a result of coronavirus, causing financial hardship.

“Ongoing communication between landlord and lender is key to understanding each other’s situations, and it is crucial that landlords, especially those with large portfolios, contact us so we can talk through the most appropriate solutions.”

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