The rental crisis is affecting people's mental health, according to a group of campaigners.

The Secure Rents campaign - launched today by Uplift and a number of trade unions - is calling for three measures to be included in the government's national rental strategy which is due to be published before the end of the year.

It says linking rents to the Consumer Price Index, allowing for indefinite leases and preventing landlords from evicting tenants for the purpose of sale, are the first steps to creating secure rents and tenancies.

The Daft Q2 report for 2016 showed that there were just 3,600 homes to rent on the 1st of August, 1,000 fewer than on the same date last year.

The average rent nationwide has risen by over one third since bottoming out in 2011 and has now surpassed its 2008 peak.

A recent report by Savills revealed that rents may rise by 25 per cent over the next two years because of a shortage of supply and the difficulties people have buying property.

The Secure Rents campaign say they're hoping to give a voice to tenants and encourage them to take action together to end the rental crisis.

Nicole Gernon reports: