HomeLet Rental Index March 2016

April 13, 2016

HomeLet posted today the latest figures and research  from the HomeLet  Rental Index

Main points:

Greater London, the East Midlands and Scotland show fastest rent rises over three months to March; North West is the only area to decline

Average rent in the UK (excluding Greater London) is now £755 per month – 4.9% higher than a year ago; average rent in London now £1,536, up 7.7%

Private rental sector anticipating impact as tax changes and new regulation come into force, HomeLet records busiest ever month for landlord insurance

Commenting on the report, Martin Totty, Barbon Insurance Group’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve continued to see increases in rents on new tenancies in almost every part of the UK during the first quarter, as the private rental market has responded to the pressures of an imbalance between demand and supply.

“However, external factors may now come into play: the stamp duty increase has already had an impact and that surge in the acquisition of property by landlords could now cause a short-term increase in the supply of rental property in some areas of the country. In the longer term, changes to rules around buy-to-let mortgage interest being offset against tax bills, coupled with the Bank of England’s instruction to lenders to apply more exacting criteria on buy-to-let lending, may have a limiting effect on supply. The data from the HomeLet Rental Index will be eagerly anticipated over the next few months as an indicator of the impact these changes have may have on the market.

“However, despite these factors, we expect the private rental sector to continue to play a crucial role in a housing market where population growth will continue for the foreseeable future according to official projections.”

See the full report on the HomeLet website click here

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove: New data – Most affordable cities to rent in

Hull tops the list as the most affordable city to rent in The city of Hull tops the list as Great Britain’s most affordable city to rent in, with the average advertised rent in the city now £799 per calendar month (pcm), 48% below the national average Second on the list of Great Britain’s most…
Read More →
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England Money and Credit – December 2024

These monthly statistics on the amount of, and interest rates on, borrowing and deposits by households and businesses are used by the Bank’s policy committees to understand economic trends and developments in the UK banking system. Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals rose by £1.0 billion, to £3.6 billion in December. Net…
Read More →
Breaking News

Housing market gets off to its strongest start in three years, with new sales agreed up 12 per cent on 2024

The 2025 sales market has got off to a stronger start than in 2024 or 2023 with buyer demand up 13 per cent and 10 per cent more homes for sale Rising sales are supporting UK house price inflation which is +2.0 per cent in the year to December 2024, compared to -0.9 per cent…
Read More →
for sale sign london
Breaking News

Westminster council must outline how their proposals on property boards will not hinder market

Westminster City Council must explain how their proposals to renew the existing Regulation 7 Direction and expand it to the whole borough will not hinder the sales and lettings markets, Propertymark argues. At present, some areas of Westminster are subject to a Regulation 7 Direction, which means consent from the Council is needed to display…
Read More →
Breaking News

National Federation of Builders View on Chancellor’s Speech

At the Autumn Budget 2024, Chancellor Reeves scaled back her interference in the planning process. However, in her speech today, she returned to the position that a well-functioning planning system is crucial to not only enabling growth but, more importantly, sustaining it. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), commented: “The…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Landlords and Tenants: A Balanced Relationship in the Private Rental Sector (PRS)

New findings from Leaders Romans Group’s (LRG) latest survey reveal a balanced picture of landlord-tenant relations in the UK. Contrary to negative stereotypes often portrayed, the data shows that tenants view their landlords positively while highlighting areas for improvement in communication and responsiveness. The survey found that 55% of tenants believe their landlord provides quality…
Read More →