TENANTS living in Bolton are paying upwards of 20 per cent of their income on rent every month, it has been revealed.

People renting in the BL1 and BL7 postcodes ­— covering the town centre, Smithills, Halliwell, Heaton, Belmont, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Edgworth, Egerton, Turton ­— are forking out the most for their homes.

Those living in these areas paid an average of 28 per cent of their monthly incomes on accommodation.

Elsewhere those in the BL2, BL5 and BL6 postcodes are spending around a quarter of their pay packets on rent.

While those living in the BL3 and BL4 postcodes are spending an average of 23 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

The data comes from a new Rent vs Income Index online tool created by window furnishing firm Thomas-Sanderson.

Thankfully the average share of income spent on rent in Bolton meets the recommendation that Briton’s should not spend any more than 35 per cent of their pay on rent. However the same cannot be said for some postcodes.

The worst offender for breaking this recommendation was the SW1A area of London where 188 per cent of the average monthly income would have to spent on the average monthly rent.

Bromyard in Herefordshire was the best place for renters according to the index at just 10 per cent.