The areas where rental growth has hit tenants by as much as 38% in the last 5 years

York, Manchester, and Ipswich have seen the strongest rental growth across the UK in the past five years, research from ideal flatmate shows.

ideal flatmate analysed rental prices across the UK and how they have growth over the last five years, highlighting the toughest markets for tenants when it comes to financial survival.

By countries in the UK

Properties in England have seen the strongest rental growth in the past five years, rising by 15.6%.

Just behind is Scotland (14.7%), followed by Northern Ireland (11.5%).

Wales has been the most tenant-friendly country in the UK in terms of rental growth, with an increase of just 3.11% over the course of five years.

Regions of England

Regionally there’s quite a disparity in terms of the rental growth in England.

The East of England has been by far the worst region for proportional rental growth, rising by 22.1%. The second-highest increase is the East Midlands (14.94%).

There’s has been growth of between 12-13% across the rest of England, with the exception of the North East, where average rents have grown the least (10.41%).

The biggest jumps by town

Typical rents in York have increased by a significant 38.1% between 2014 and 2019, rising from £749 per month to £1,034.

Close behind are Manchester (37.8%), Ipswich (37.7%) and South Gloucestershire (37.0%).

Barking and Dagenham has seen the largest increase in London at 33.2%.

Rents fall in Aberdeen, Moray, and Leeds

Rental prices haven’t increased everywhere, however.

Average rents in Aberdeen City and Moray, both in Scotland, have each fallen by 21.7% in the past five years from £923 to £723.

Meanwhile, Leeds has seen the biggest rental fall in rents in England, plunging by 18.1% from £928 to £760.

Co-founder of ideal flatmate, Tom Gatzen, commented:

“While initial rental affordability may be based on the cost of renting in a given area, many renters are aware of this cost and make a choice to live there.

However, the real squeeze in rental affordability is the continued increase in rents in many parts of the UK on an annual basis.

While an increase of £250 over five years might not sound significant, for those renting in York and already struggling with the cost, it’s enough to price them out of the sector altogether.

Over the last five years, the growing preference for people to share the burden and live with others rather than go it alone has been driven out of necessity rather than choice, but at least, we have better platforms, technology, and transparency to accommodate this growing trend now.”​​​​​​​

Location
Average rental price (per month) 2014
Average rental price (per month) 2019
Change / growth (2014-2019)
England
£742
£858
15.6%
Wales
£500
£515
3.1%
Scotland
£638
£732
14.7%
Northern Ireland
£549
£612
11.5%
East of England
£705
£863
22.4%
East Midlands
£542
£623
14.9%
London
£1,530
£1,727
12.9%
West Midlands
£577
£651
12.8%
South West
£695
£784
12.8%
North West
£541
£610
12.8%
South East
£873
£980
12.3%
North East
£490
£541
10.4%
Yorkshire and the Humber
£553
£609
10.1%
Rankings – best locations from 2014 to 2019 – by average rental price change/growth
Location
Average rental price (per month) 2014
Average rental price (per month) 2019
Change / growth (2014-2019)
York
£749
£1,034
38.1%
Manchester
£609
£839
37.8%
Ipswich
£467
£643
37.7%
South Gloucestershire
£713
£977
37.0%
Barking and Dagenham
£895
£1,192
33.2%
Dartford
£753
£997
32.4%
Epping Forest
£995
£1,306
31.3%
Newham
£1,084
£1,422
31.2%
Cambridge
£934
£1,225
31.2%
Newcastle upon Tyne
£549
£717
30.6%
Derby
£444
£578
30.2%
Redbridge
£1,003
£1,303
29.9%
Bristol
£828
£1,070
29.2%
Exeter
£757
£976
28.9%
Three Rivers
£1,055
£1,356
28.5%
Rankings – worst locations from 2014 to 2019 – by average rental price change/growth
Location
Average rental price (per month) 2014
Average rental price (per month) 2019
Change / growth (2014-2019)
Aberdeen City
£923
£723
-21.7%
Moray
£923
£723
-21.7%
Leeds
£928
£760
-18.1%
Windsor and Maidenhead
£1,342
£1,252
-6.7%
Bracknell Forest
£1,093
£1,021
-6.6%
Torfaen
£517
£486
-6.0%
Surrey Heath
£1,156
£1,101
-4.8%
Doncaster
£487
£471
-3.3%
Plymouth
£586
£569
-2.9%
Pembrokeshire
£484
£471
-2.7%
Elmbridge
£1,816
£1,776
-2.2%
Redcar and Cleveland
£505
£497
-1.6%
Rhondda Cynon Taf
£424
£419
-1.4%
Cotswold
£951
£939
-1.3%
Richmond upon Thames
£1,917
£1,896
-1.1%

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

UK house prices growing by 2.5% according to Halifax

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark: “This slight dip in house prices will likely have been influenced as a direct consequence to the current state of the global economy. There will always be a need for people to move house regardless of international trading relations; however, many aspiring or current homeowners will no doubt be discouraged…
Read More
Breaking News

UK house prices dip slightly in May, but market remains steady

Average property price now £296,648 compared to £297,798 last month Annual rate of growth slows to +2.5% from +3.2% in April Overall house prices have remained stable so far this year Northern Ireland continues to lead annual price growth in the UK Amanda Bryden, Head of Mortgages, Halifax, said: “Average UK house prices fell by…
Read More
Breaking News

Estate Agent Content

Do you think that your estate agency / property business requires content? Is content marketing still a thing in 2025? Are you concerned if anyone will read your words? Is it worth investing in estate agent content? Businesses with blogs generate 67% more leads than those without. As competition for attention online increases it remains…
Read More
Breaking News

The cost of voids rises by £200 for England’s landlords

The latest analysis by Dwelly, one of the UK’s leading lettings acquisition and success planning experts, has found that landlords have been hit with a 26% increase in the cost of void periods in the past year, equivalent to lost income of almost £200. Dwelly analysed average void period data from March 2024 and March…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 5/06/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Demand Rises for Housing and Infrastructure Projects Rising demand for housing, infrastructure and energy projects across Wales has driven continued growth at Lichfields’ Cardiff office, which this year marks 25 years in the capital. The team of 17 planning professionals is one of the largest…
Read More
Breaking News

Construction continues to enjoy a season in the sun

Underlying performance is on the rise during Q.2 2025 Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the June 2025 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of May 2025, covering all underlying projects, with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise…
Read More