A YOUNG man from Bridgwater has hit out against “disgusting” rental prices he has encountered during his search for a new place to live.

Stuart Ridewood has been looking to move out from a house-share using website Somerset Homelet, which lists available properties in the area and works in partnership with district councils across Somerset, including the Sedgemoor authority.

He was shocked to discover a property – that was listed for £2,000 a month in West Quay – on the website he believed should be listing ‘affordable housing’.

“I was searching for better accommodation but found a two bed flat with bills included was £2,000 a month,” He said.

“I was shocked to discover there are some landlords who have no shame.

“I contacted the council to test what they thought of it, the response was that some people are willing to pay that, maybe it’s forgetting the responsibility to ensure affordable housing is available across the district the council claims to serve.

“This is a problem with us Millennials struggling to afford housing we have a fundamental right to.”

He claims there should be more control over what landlords are allowed to charge and believes the problem will only get worse unless young people “start causing a stink.”

Sedgemoor District Council says the website is run by a third party and that the ‘partners’ bear no responsibility for its content.

A spokesman said: “If you look at the website, you will see a whole range of properties advertised, some suitable for house-share. The higher rated ones are generally for entire houses with a number of bedrooms. They are advertised at the commercial market rates.

“However, the council does have a number of initiatives that help people to find affordable accommodation, but there is just not enough to go round. “

The council said there are around 8,000 people on the Somerset-wide waiting list for council housing and about 2,000 of those are in Sedgemoor

The council spokesman added: “Until last year, councils were not allow to build new council housing, but that has changed and we have been building new affordable housing and have plans to build more and are attempting to grow the private rented sector.

“The councils was given some funding under the Hinkley Point C funding streams. The aim of the funding is to mitigate any potential adverse effects on the local private rented and low cost housing market, and particularly the ability of those on lower incomes to access local housing, that might arise as a result of the Hinkley Point C development.

Tamlyns, a Bridgwater-based estate agent, has said it sees no problems for young people trying to rent. A spokesman said: “A lot of our tennants are young people and young families.

“When people aren’t working it can get a bit difficult, as well as having bad credit, it can go against you. Normally we’ve got a good range of rent prices so we can suit all types of people in Bridgwater.

“I don’t believe it’s more difficult for young people, as everyone gets treated the same.”