Rent in Torridge rose 5% in the past year, new figures show.

It comes as Propertymark, a membership organisation for estate agents, warned upcoming reforms in England and Scotland may add more "uncertainty to aspiring investors" and increase rent prices in the long term.

Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics show the average private rent in Torridge reached £767 per month in the year to June – up 5% from £730 a year prior.

It was also up 28% from an estimated £601 a month five years ago.

Valuation Office Agency rent officers collect prices from a variety of sources, including landlords and letting agents, with the aim to collect data on approximately 10% of the market.

Across the South West, the average rent was £1,181 – rising 5% from the year before.

Torridge had the lowest rental cost in the region, while the highest was in Bristol at £1,753.

The average private rent in Great Britain was £1,355 per month in June. This was £84, or 7%, higher than 12 months ago.

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, said: "Britain needs a stable and thriving private rental market to provide choice to people who intend to put a roof over their heads.

"New legislation especially in both England and Scotland is adding more uncertainty to aspiring investors and ultimately raising rent prices in the long term, creating a myriad of unintended consequences.

"It is vital that the UK Government and the devolved administrations listen to those working in the lettings market to ensure that the private rental sector works better for everyone."

The figures also show the different costs for various homes in Torridge, from £548 for a one-bed property to £1,243 for a home with four or more bedrooms in June.

Among the property types in the area: