Sinn Fein has raised serious concerns after figures revealed the rise in private rents in Northern Ireland.

The party's housing spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín made the comments according to figures in the Homelet Rental Index.

She said: "Average rent in the private sector has risen by 2.4% here compared to an increase of 0.9% in Britain. In Mid Ulster the average increase is a steep 5%.

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"This increase is not being driven by a rise in prosperity. It is being driven by the failure to build sufficient social housing, which is forcing more and more people into the private market.

"These figures have been released just days after research by the Nevin Economic Research Institute linked higher rents in the private sector with poverty.

"Lengthy waiting lists for social housing and higher private rents is the price ordinary families pay for the failure to build sufficient social houses to meet need."

(CD/MH)