BrightHouse, which rents high-end consumer durables to people who cannot get credit, enjoyed double-digit revenue and profit growth in the six months to September. The lift came as rising unemployment and economic uncertainty helped widen the company’s customer base.

The privately owned retail chain, which rents out top-of-the-range television sets, washing machines and sofas without requiring large deposits or credit ratings, is due to report that revenues surged 15.6 per cent to £94.6m in the six months to September 30.