Rental inflation remained subdued across England during March, according to the Goodlord Rental Index, as the market continues to show signs of cooling after several years of intense price increases.
Year-on-year rental increases were 2.4% - lower than wider inflationary metrics and considerably slower than the pace of rent increases recorded at the same time last year. However, with seismic regulatory reforms hitting the market in just a month’s time, this holding pattern could soon be disrupted.
Based on thousands of verified tenancy transactions each month, the Goodlord Rental Index captures true market value. These figures reflect confirmed tenant contracts, thereby excluding marketing inflation or any aspirational pricing on property listings.
The average cost of a rental property in England in March 2026 was £1,212. This is a 2.4% increase on prices recorded twelve months ago (March 2025), when average rents stood at £1,184 per property.
This means that the level of annual rental inflation recorded in March 2026 is significantly lower than that seen at the same time last year. In March 2025, rents were up 4.6% year-on-year.
This month’s year-on-year inflation is slightly higher than the 2% recorded in February, but in line with the year-on-year rent increase seen in January of this year.
The data shows rental inflation continues to sit below the latest Consumer Price Inflation figures, which remained at 3.2% in February, as well as wage growth, which stands at 3.9% according to figures for March.
While the nationwide picture is one of overall cooling demand, the North of England is seeing higher year-on-year rental inflation than the rest of the country.
The three regions which saw the greatest year-on-year price increases in March 2026 were Yorkshire and The Humber (6.6%), the North West (6.3%) and the North East (5.9%).
No other regions in England saw year-on-year rents rise by more than 2.8%, while the East of England (-2.6%) and the South West (-0.3%) each recorded lower prices than those seen in March 2025.
Across England, average rents continued to see limited month-on-month change. In February, the average cost of a new rental was £1,203 per month. In March, this rose by 0.8% to £1,212 - a difference of less than £10 per month.
While the North West continues to outpace the majority of the country in terms of year-on-year inflation, prices here actually saw a significant month-on-month drop during March, following a particularly buoyant February for the region. Average rents in the North West spiked to £1,096 in February, but fell to £1,066 in March. This 2.7% price cut perhaps signifies a level of market correction, following the 4% rise seen during the previous month.
Elsewhere, the greatest month-on-month increase came in Yorkshire and The Humber, which saw rents jump 3.2%, from £930 to £959.
Whilst it’s not unusual for month-on-month rental averages to remain steady during the early months of the year, the consistently limited changes seen thus far in 2026 could signal a market holding its breath in anticipation of potential volatility created by next month’s implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act.
Voids - the length of time a property is vacant between lets - remained consistent at 22 days across England in March, marking no change from February.
The greatest lengthening in void periods was seen in the North East (increasing 23 to 26 days) and the South West (moving from 18 to 21 days). The region with the fastest turnaround between tenancies in March 2026 was the East of England, where voids stood at just 16 days, almost a week shorter than the national average.
“The latest figures will be welcomed by tenants, who continue to see wage growth outstrip rental inflation and rents rising less quickly than other consumer prices. Whilst minimal month-on-month changes are to be expected at this time of year, the year-on-year figures give a clear picture of a market that has significantly cooled in recent months.
“However, there’s a possibility that what we’re witnessing is the calm before the storm. With the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act now only a month away, we could simply be in a holding pattern before a torrent of new market forces are unlocked. The new legislation could see a spike in gazundering, tenants giving notice, and landlords increasing rents. In a few months, this market picture could look very different indeed.”