Nine out of ten north London private renters have had “serious problems” with their homes, a new survey has claimed.

According to report “What are London renters thinking?”, many people experienced four or more major issues during their time renting.

The report claims 53 per cent of Enfield and Haringey tenants reported their landlords came into their homes without permission. This was the highest percentage in London, compared with a city average of 43 per cent.

The most common problem was a rent increase people struggled to afford, and seven in ten said they had suffered from repairs and maintenance not being done.

In Barnet, 54 per cent of renters reported struggling with increases over the last three years.

The report also reveals the huge amount people are forced to spend to have a roof over their heads every month.

Across Barnet, Enfield, Hackney, Camden, Islington and Waltham Forest, renters spent on average 44 per cent of their pay on covering their rent.

The survey included anonymous comments left by renters by the postcode they lived in, which gives an insight into their experiences.

One Southbury tenant wrote: “The rent goes up across the whole borough at the same time so it's impossible to find somewhere more affordable when the rent goes up, also there is no warning that the rent will be going up.

“The electrics in my flat are dangerous, if I put a bulb in in the hall or all but one of the kitchen lights it blows the fuses in the flat. The water is heated with an immersion heater which has broken countless times. I think it is a fire risk because the socket gets hot when the heater is on and I see sparks when it turns off.”

Another person, from the Barnet-Enfield border, said: “Ex landlord knew the place was damp and we had to keep windows open all year round.

“We closed all the windows when we locked up for the last time. They didn't check the property for over a month and by then the place was black and mouldy throughout so they kept almost all of our £900 deposit, I think we got £180 back

“Renting in London is a joke, they get away with it because they know renters are fighting each other to get the better of the properties. It's a complete nightmare.”

Greater London Authority member Sian Berry, who commissioned the report and claims to have rented in London for 20 years, called for more support from the government to renters.

She said: “In this report I’m recommending that the Mayor stands up for London’s private renters and support them in standing up for themselves.

“The Mayor should look seriously at providing practical help such as office space and seed funding to help found an independent London-wide organisation to represent renters in our city.”