MENDIP is in the third fastest-growing region for rent increase, a study shows.

The research comes from Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative, which broke down how rents have risen or fallen in the past five years up and down the country.

Mendip makes up the top three, as tenants now have to pay 33.6 per cent more than five years ago, at £922 per month.

In Bristol, it now costs an average of £1,513pm to rent a property.

This is 40.9 per cent more than the £1,074 it cost just five years ago, suggesting there’s a lack of supply to meet demand from incoming tenants in the city.

Sam Reynolds, CEO of Zero Deposit said: “Tenants are struggling with rental affordability, and with huge increases to the cost of renting in cities like Bristol and Liverpool it’s easy to see why.

“Even in areas where rents have fallen, the cost of securing a property remains extremely expensive.

“In the past few years, the market has been rocked by rising energy costs and mortgage rates, while the lack of supply to meet demand is also serving to push up prices in previously affordable regions.

“This means that those reliant on the rental sector in order to live can face incredible competition when searching and an even larger financial barrier when it comes to placing a deposit and covering the asking rent on a monthly basis.”

Liverpool and Norwich are two other cities where rents have been pushed up by strong demand, as they experienced growth of 33.1 per cent and 31.9 per cent respectively.

Rents have fallen or stagnated in some of the priciest regions across England, in particular in Surrey and London.

Elmbridge in Surrey has seen a major decrease in the cost of renting, by -21.6 per cent, though it still stands at £1,554 per month.

Guildford in West Surrey has also seen a reduction of -3.8 per cent.

Rents have also fallen across four districts of London: by -8.1 per cent in the City of London; -6.5 per cent in Richmond Upon Thames; -3.9 per cent in Kensington and Chelsea; and by -2.9 per cent in Brent.