Why are we in a rental crisis? Three reasons. First, demand. There's 50% more demand than usual, partly because half a million more people came to the UK than left it last year, which is more than double a typical year. Second, supply. There's more people, but not more houses. There are roughly the same number of rental properties now as there were in 2016, and the population then was 2 million lower. Third, ability to pay. Rents normally take up 30 to 35% of a single person's income. It's now just above 35%, so rents have gone up because there's more demand, no more supply, and people can just about afford it. But there is good news. Rents can't grow faster than incomes forever, and rent increases are projected to full to 4% to 5% by the end of the year.