UK Rents Stagnate in Early 2026 for First Time Since 2017
Rental asking prices in the UK stagnated during the first quarter of 2026, marking the first time since 2017 that rents did not rise at the start of the year. Data from property portal Rightmove reveals that average monthly rents remained flat at £1,370 between January and March, identical to the previous quarter. Annual growth slowed to just 1.6 percent, the lowest rate since 2018. This shift is attributed to a rebalancing of supply and demand, as house price growth slows and more rental properties become available. Consequently, competition among tenants has decreased, forcing landlords to be more realistic with pricing to avoid void periods. Approximately 26 percent of rental listings saw price reductions, the highest proportion recorded since 2012. However, experts warn this respite may be temporary. The impending Renters Rights Act is expected to drive nearly 220,000 properties out of the private rental sector by year-end, potentially causing rents to soar again due to reduced supply.
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UK Rents Stagnate in Early 2026 for First Time Since 2017
Rental asking prices in the UK stagnated during the first quarter of 2026, marking the first time since 2017 that rents did not rise at the start of the year. Data from property portal Rightmove reveals that average monthly rents remained flat at £1,370 between January and March, identical to the previous quarter. Annual growth slowed to just 1.6 percent, the lowest rate since 2018. This shift is attributed to a rebalancing of supply and demand, as house price growth slows and more rental properties become available. Consequently, competition among tenants has decreased, forcing landlords to be more realistic with pricing to avoid void periods. Approximately 26 percent of rental listings saw price reductions, the highest proportion recorded since 2012. However, experts warn this respite may be temporary. The impending Renters Rights Act is expected to drive nearly 220,000 properties out of the private rental sector by year-end, potentially causing rents to soar again due to reduced supply.
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