Sunday 19 June 2022 01:46 AM Tenants are sending landlords 'smiley' photos or sob stories in a bid to secure ... trends now

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Prospective tenants are resorting to desperate measures and sob stories in a bid to secure elusive tenancies.

Rents have rocketed by up to 14 per cent in the last year as people flood back to the cities following the end of pandemic restrictions.

Boris Johnson last week announced that low-paid workers will be able to use income from benefits to buy a council house, but critics say he needs to do more to help young professionals.

With three prospective tenants for each available property, people are seeking to stand out from the crowd in ferocious bidding wars. Some are accompanying their CVs to landlords with pictures of them enjoying wholesome hobbies.

‘For some landlords it’s not always about the money, it’s about the calibre of tenant,’ said Richard Davies, Head of Lettings at London-based estate agent Chestertons.

‘And tenants are doing all they can to try and secure a property. You typically get CVs showing a happy family or a couple with an adorable cat, as if to say, "Please take us, feel sorry for us".'