The biggest rent price shifts since last Christmas

Leading lettings management platform, Howsy, has looked at where across the nation makes the rental naughty and nice lists since last Christmas, based on the growth in rental costs over the last 12 months.

Using data from the ONS, Howsy has highlighted the top 15 locations to have seen the biggest increases and decreases in the average rental price since last Christmas.

Nationally

Depending on whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, the naughty and nice lists will differ between rental growth and decline but across the nation as a whole, the cost of renting as edged up 0.9% in the last 12 months.

The largest increase has been in Yorkshire and the Humber with a 5.1% jump, while the North East is the only region to have seen a decline at -1.1%.

Where else has dropped?

Looking locally, tenants in Corby will be full of Christmas cheer with the average cost of renting down -10.5% in the last 12 months, the biggest drop across England. Elmbridge in Surrey has also seen the cost of renting drop by double-digits, down -10%.

Windsor and Maidenhead, Wycombe and Bath and North East Somerset also make the top ten biggest rental declines. At -7.2%, Richmond has seen the largest drop in rental values in London, with Tandridge, Stroud, Rushcliffe and Poole also amongst some of the largest drops.

Where has increased?

It’s not all festive cheer for tenants this Christmas though, particularly those in Exeter, with the average rental cost up 28.7% in the last 12 months. Norwich and Newcastle under Lyme have also seen rental prices jump by more than 20% at 21.1% and 20.5% respectively.

Camden has seen the largest increase in the capital, up 18.8%, along with South Oxfordshire at 16%. The City of London, Westminster, York, Hounslow and Mendip have all seen the average cost of renting increase by more than 10% this year.

Founder and CEO of Howsy, Calum Brannan, commented:

“The change in the cost of renting on a regional basis in the last 12 months alone highlights how diverse the rental market is and how fluctuations in stock levels and tenant demand can make a big difference between one area and the next.

Nationally, rents have increased, for the most part, but it’s not all bad news and while some tenants will be feeling the pinch more so this Christmas, others will be enjoying a reduction in the cost of renting.

With a number of legislative changes introduced this year, the rental sector should become a better, more transparent place for tenants and landlords alike as we head into a new decade and this is something we can all look forward to regardless of the change in rental costs.”

Lowest Rental Growth Nationally and by Region
Location
Rental change growth % (2018-2019)
England
0.9%
North East
-1.1%
London
1.1%
East of England
1.2%
South East
1.4%
East Midlands
1.9%
South West
2.5%
North West
2.6%
West Midlands
3.0%
Yorkshire and the Humber
5.1%
Lowest Rental Growth by Area
Location
Rental change growth % (2018-2019)
Corby
-10.5%
Elmbridge
-10.0%
Windsor and Maidenhead
-9.4%
Wycombe
-8.7%
Bath and North East Somerset
-7.3%
Richmond upon Thames
-7.2%
Tandridge
-7.0%
Stroud
-6.7%
Rushcliffe
-6.2%
Poole
-5.9%
Wealden
-5.7%
Newcastle upon Tyne
-5.5%
Brighton and Hove
-4.9%
Ealing
-4.5%
Middlesbrough
-4.3%
Highest Rental Growth by Area
Location
Rental change growth % (2018-2019)
Exeter
28.7%
Norwich
21.1%
Newcastle-under-Lyme
20.5%
Camden
19.8%
South Oxfordshire
16.0%
City of London
11.7%
Westminster
11.4%
York
11.3%
Hounslow
10.5%
Mendip
10.1%
Broadland
8.6%
Wirral
8.5%
Chiltern
8.2%
Canterbury
8.1%
Sedgemoor
8.1%

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Money and Credit – October 2025

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals fell back to £4.3 billion in October, after a rise to £5.2 billion in September. In October, net mortgage approvals for house purchase decreased by 600 to 65,000, while approvals for remortgaging fell by 3,600 to 33,100, the lowest since February 2025 (32,900). Net borrowing of…
Read More
Breaking News

Federation of Master Builders Hosts Reform Deputy Leader on Build Up from the Basement Podcast

The Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) Build Up from the Basement podcast has hosted Richard Tice MP, Deputy Leader of Reform UK to discuss Reform UK’s plans for the construction sector, if it was to get into power. Mr Tice outlined his vision for helping the industry while tackling the £14.3 billion lost to rogue…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Enhancing Project Presentation with 3D Rendering Services

Imagine pitching a luxury hotel to investors using only blueprints and mood boards. They nod politely, squint at technical drawings, and promise to “think about it.” Now picture showing them a photorealistic walkthrough where sunlight streams through the lobby’s glass atrium, shadows dance across Italian marble floors, and they can virtually stand on the rooftop…
Read More
Breaking News

House prices fall for the first time in 18 months across southern England

House prices fall for the first time in 18 months across southern England, but threat of new property tax removed from 210,000 homes   House prices in London and the South recorded their first fall in 18 months, driven by budget uncertainty and more homes for sale, boosting choice for home buyers. UK-wide buyer demand…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove trialling new Renovation Cost Estimator

Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, is trialling a new renovation tool with home-movers, designed to help buyers understand the potential renovation costs of a property. The new ‘Renovation Cost Estimator’ tool encourages home-movers to spend more time considering the renovation potential of homes listed on Rightmove. It aims to provide agents with more high-intent…
Read More
Breaking News

Strong rental supply continues amid seasonal slowdown in demand

Rental supply remained resilient in October, continuing the strong trend seen throughout 2025. Overall, year-to-date figures show new listings up 10% compared with last year, highlighting a sustained improvement in market supply. Average rents edged down by 3% in October 2025 compared with September 2025, settling at £575 per week. This slight dip aligns with…
Read More