Sinn Fein has called for a "radical approach" to housing costs in Northern Ireland.

The party's housing spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín made the call after figures released revealed a 3.7 percent increase in rent within the private rental sector in NI.

She said: "Disproportionate housing costs as compared to family income is increasing hardship and driving child poverty here. Many families living in private rentals are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their rent while others are struggling to service mortgage-debt of up to 60 percent of their monthly pay.

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"Sinn Fein's mitigation of Welfare Reform will protect families here by retaining direct payments and challenging the Bedroom Tax but a recent report into the roll out of Universal Credit in England and its impact on rent arrears raises concerns."

(CD/MH)