x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Rents rising ‘significantly below’ the general rate of inflation

Rental price growth in the UK remains sluggish, the latest HomeLet Rental Index shows.

The annual rate of rental price inflation reached 1.1% in March, significantly lower than the UK consumer price index of 2.3% recorded last month, which is putting continuing pressure on real incomes.

The average UK rent for a new tenancy starting in March was £904 per month, which is higher than March 2016’s average of £894, and £9 more when compared to February 2017, based on HomeLet’s data.

Advertisement

Annual rental price growth has dropped from a high point of 4.7% in June 2016, with the reduction in the pace of rental price inflation most marked in areas of the country where rents were previously increasing fastest.

Rents in March rose in every area of the country apart from two when compared to February, with Yorkshire & Humberside and the North West of England as the sole fallers.

On an annual basis, rents were higher in March than a year previously in 11 out of 12 regions covered by HomeLet’s index, with the South East registering a marginal decline.

Martin Totty, chief executive of Barbon Insurance Group, HomeLet’s parent company, said: “In the current housing market, where demand for homes continues to outstrip supply and house prices are out of reach for many buyers, the long-term trend in the private rental sector is likely to be for rental price inflation to continue; however, the HomeLet Rental Index continues to reflect landlords’ focus on offering tenants affordable rents, with rents now increasing at a rate significantly below the general rate of inflation in the UK economy.”

Rental figures from the March 2017 HomeLet Rental Index:

Region

Average rent in March 2017

Average rent in February 2017

Average rent in March 2016

Monthly variation

Annual variation

Wales

£616

£602

£598

2.3%

3.1%

Yorkshire & Humberside

£619

£621

£607

-0.3%

2.1%

North East

£522

£522

£512

0.0%

1.9%

North West

£675

£680

£664

-0.7%

1.7%

East Midlands

£602

£595

£593

1.1%

1.6%

Northern Ireland

£614

£604

£605

1.6%

1.5%

West Midlands

£663

£659

£654

0.6%

1.4%

Scotland

£610

£597

£602

2.1%

1.2%

Greater London

£1,546

£1,520

£1,527

1.7%

1.2%

East of England

£902

£896

£892

0.7%

1.1%

South West

£798

£791

£791

0.9%

0.9%

South East

£997

£992

£1,000

0.5%

-0.3%

UK

£904

£895

£894

1.1%

1.1%

UK excluding Greater London

£751

£746

£744

0.7%

1.0%

Notes:

 

Based on new tenancies in March 2017

Based on new tenancies in February 2017

Based on new tenancies in March 2016

Comparison of average rent in March 2017 and February 2017

Comparison of average rent in March 2017 and March 2016

 

Rents rising ‘significantly below’ the general rate of inflation

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal
sign up