麻豆社

Would you pay more than the asking price to rent a flat with mushrooms growing out of the bathroom walls?

That was the situation Chris Sayers found himself in when he was hunting for a place to live in London.

He'd gone to view the apartment, in a "brand new, high-rise complex", and the letting agent told him that he'd have to stump up at least 拢100 a month more than the advertised rent to be in with a chance of securing the property.

Chris, originally from Wales, had never heard of bidding wars before moving to London, but was involved in two when looking for a place to rent in the capital.

A survey by charity Shelter found more than half a million private renters in England missed out on a place in the last five years because someone else offered more money. And according to figures from Rightmove for the 麻豆社, letting agents get about 25 requests to see each available property. Before the pandemic, it was six.

So why is this happening? And what's the impact - both on the market, and tenants?

麻豆社 Newsbeat's Polly Bayfield has the story.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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