House rents increasing by 5% a year – the highest rate since 2008

Zoopla’s most recent UK Rental Marker Report indicates that the UK rental sector excluding London is experiencing a surge in demand, with average monthly rent now sitting at £943. Annual rental growth is at 5%, its highest level since 2008. The rise is believed to be the result of people returning to work in towns and students returning to universities. Rental demand is higher than supply, with demand up 19% compared with this time last year and supply down 13%. Investments in buy-to-let properties have experienced a decline since the introduction of the additional 3% stamp duty back in 2016, which is contributing to the pressure on rent levels. The stock of rental properties is expected to remain low nationally for the foreseeable future.

Source struttandparker

EAN Breaking News

Breaking News from the team at Estate Agent Networking. Have a new story to share with us? Then please get in contact today! When and where we can we will refer to third party websites with a 'live link back' where news was released first.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Tackling Empty Properties

A UK Perspective on Best Practice and Recommendations for Reform Propertymark, the UK’s leading professional body for property agents, has today published a comprehensive new position paper highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, practical and properly resourced action to bring long-term empty properties back into use. With over 359,000 homes sitting empty for more than…
Read More
Breaking News

Pet-friendly rentals plunge 39%

New research from Inventory Base reveals that the number of pet-friendly rental homes in England has fallen by -39% since the start of 2026, as landlords appear to be reducing the number of homes openly marketed as allowing pets ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect from 1st May. The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA)…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest Nationwide house price data showing a 2.2% increase

Industry reaction to Nationwide house price data showing UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in March, from 1.0% in February. Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments: “An uplift in house prices will be welcomed by the market and suggests that buyer demand remains resilient despite ongoing economic headwinds. Improved sentiment, coupled with…
Read More
Breaking News

UK house price growth picks up in March

UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in March, from 1.0% in February Northern Ireland best performing area in Q1 2026, with prices up 9.5% year-on-year Outer South East weakest performing region, with prices down 0.7% compared with Q1 2025 Headlines Mar-26 Feb-26 Monthly Index* 552.6 547.7 Monthly Change* 0.9% 0.3% Annual Change…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage approvals up in February

The latest mortgage approval data from the Bank of England show that: –   Mortgage approvals on house purchases for February sat at 62,584 up (3.9%) from 60,246 seen in January. Approvals are down (-3.9%) when compared to the 65,114 seen in February 2025. This annual decline was expected due to wider market slowdown and economic…
Read More
Breaking News

Pain for landlords as buy-to-let borrowing costs soar

Buy-to-let fixed mortgage rates are soaring due to unrest in the Middle East, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk. Landlords also face further financial challenges over the next few years, to meet new private rental rules. Average buy-to-let fixed rates over a two- or five-year term have risen since the start of March 2026. The two-year rate is…
Read More