This month’s Index is leveraging a new and improved methodology to deliver even more accurate insights into the UK’s lettings market.
In September, the market also saw month-on-month rises across almost the entire UK, as prices inch up despite the Renters’ Rights Act slowing transaction volumes.
Certain regions are now consistently pulling ahead in terms of rent rises, whilst others - such as the East Midlands - are seeing rental inflation stagnate.
Across the UK overall, rents have risen by 5% (4.9%) over the last year.
In September 2025, average rents were £1,507 per property. Last month, this had risen to £1,581. For tenants, this means properties cost £888 more per year than in 2025.
The rise in year-on-year prices was felt most acutely in Wales, where year-on-year rents rose by over 7%. In England, rents were up by 5.5%. Scotland saw the smallest change, with year-on-year rental averages up just under 3%.
At a regional level, the most eye-catching increase was in the North East, where the average cost of a rental property has soared by 14%. In the region, rental averages were £878 this time last year, compared to £1,000 today - a major jump of £264 per year for tenants.
The only area to see a year-on-year decrease in rental averages was the East of England (home to Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk), which saw a very small year-on-year reduction of 0.4%.
Other regions, such as the East Midlands, are also showing signs of cooling demand. In contrast to the rest of the UK, the East Midlands has now posted diminishing year-on-year growth rates for two years. This indicates a significant shift in demand for homes across the region.
Between August and September, there was a modest month-on-month rise in the cost of rent across the whole of the UK, with rents rising by just under 1% (0.9%).
All regions tracked saw a month-on-month increase in rents, except Yorkshire and the Humber, which saw a very small dip (-0.2%).
The region with the biggest month-on-month increase was again the North East, where rental averages jumped by 5.6%. This was followed by the North West, which tracked a 3% rise in rents.
The average void period in September was 20 days, down slightly from the 21-day average recorded in August.
Continuing its bumper month, the North East recorded the shortest voids across the UK during September, standing at just 11 days on average. Yorkshire and the Humber had the longest average void periods, with properties sitting vacant between tenancies for 29 days on average.
“Overall, rental averages continue to outstrip inflation year-on-year - highlighting the ongoing supply and demand pressures. But the overall pace of rent growth does appear to be slowing, particularly in certain regions. Key factors, such as the sharp drop in net migration figures, are likely to be helping ease some of the supply/demand imbalance we’ve seen over recent years.”