WORKERS in Bracknell are spending more than a third of their earnings just on renting somewhere to live, figures from the GMB reveal.

The average rent for a two-bedroom flat in the borough eats away more than 35 per cent of people’s average monthly earnings the figures show, nearly 10 per cent more than the average across England.

The GMB claim this is a sign more homes need to be built across the south-east as the percentage of earnings taken up by paying rent continues to rise.

Paul Maloney, GMB southern regional secretary, said: “These figures demonstrate the extent of the squeeze felt by workers and their families in the South East since the financial crisis in 2008. Rents have surged upwards as pay has been stagnant or falling.

“They show that a massive programme to build more homes, especially homes for rent, by the South East authorities is absolutely essential in all parts of the region and has to get underway without delay.”

In 2011, the median rent for a two-bedroom property in Bracknell would set you back £800 a month, and take up 32 per cent of an average monthly income of £2,500.

Now in 2016 the average rent for two bedrooms has risen to £925 and takes up 35.6 per cent of the average monthly pay packet which has risen just £100. This puts Bracknell’s rents higher than the average for the south east as a whole, where rents take up 32 per cent of earnings.

Across England the average percentage of earnings spent on rent was just 26 per cent.

In Wokingham the same figures stands at 31.6 per cent, in the Royal Borough 37.1 per cent, and in Reading 38.8 per cent.