Rental growth picks up across Great Britain in April according to Hamptons International

Latest Hamptons International Monthly Lettings Index – April 2018 reveals that in April the average cost of a new let in the North fell for the first time in four years. The average cost of a new let reached £953 pcm in Great Britain in April, 1.9% up on the same period last year.

Average rents in the North fell -0.3% in April compared with the same period last year – the first year-on-year fall since June 2014. the average cost of a new let in the South rose to £1,372 pcm in April, 2.2 times more than the average rent in the North (£622 pcm) according to Hamptons International.

Commenting Aneisha Beveridge, Research Analyst at Hamptons International, said:

“Low stock levels in the South continue to drive rental growth as tenants compete for fewer available homes.  Since April 2016, the month the stamp duty surcharge was introduced for second homeowners, landlords across Great Britain have sold 88,000 more homes than they bought.  But landlords are finding new ways to maximise their returns by purchasing properties elsewhere, particularly further North in search of lower stamp duty bills and higher yields.

“Across Great Britain rental growth picked up last month to 1.9%, with the East being the top performing region (3.6%).  London has seen a reversal of fortunes with rental growth averaging 2.7% so far this year compared to -2.0% in the same period last year.  This growth has been driven by inner London with average rents rising 4.1% so far this year.”

Source of information Hamptons International.

From May 2018, the Countrywide Lettings Index has been re-branded the Hamptons International Monthly Lettings Index.

Hamptons International, part of the Countrywide Group, will continue to run the lettings index.  The methodology and time series remain the same.  The index has been running since 2012.  From May 2018 the index will include an inner and outer London split.

 

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

Breaking News

Volume doubles as property market sees strong return of new applicants

Foxtons Lettings Market Index – January 2026 Demand rebounded sharply from December, with registrations up 93% month on month and new renters per instruction up 11% compared to December, reflecting a seasonal uplift in activity at the start of the year. New renters per new instruction fell 12% year on year, indicating that competitive pressure…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Property valuation leads to agents up 50% on last year

The launch of a new valuation product and AI optimisations to the existing product suite led to a significant uplift in valuation leads for agents from Rightmove in January. Valuation leads grew by 50% in January 2026 compared to the same period last year. The launch of Online Agent Valuation towards the end of 2025 helps connect…
Read More
Breaking News

Worst areas for landlord eviction waiting times

The latest research industry insight from LegalforLandlords has highlighted where the longest and shortest wait times are when it comes to court hearing dates for landlords who are trying to repossess their properties, with the most overstretched courts found in the likes of Birmingham, Croydon, and Slough. Having analysed internal data on wait times for…
Read More
Breaking News

726,000 rented homes could remain non-decent by 2035

And that’s without holding them to the updated standard outlined in the recent DHS consultation A new consultation on the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) has suggested that all rented homes, private and social, must meet an updated, more stringent standard by 2035. However, new research from Inventory Base reveals that if the current rate of…
Read More
Breaking News

UK House Price Index for December 2025

The latest UK House Price Index shows that: The average monthly rate of house price growth in December was -0.7%. Average UK house price annual inflation was 2.4% in the 12 months to December 2025. As a result, the average UK house price currently sits at £270,000.   Here are some thoughts from the Industry.…
Read More
Cozy Pet Cat Tree Grey
Breaking News

10 things all tenants need to know when renting now

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025 and will introduce major reforms to private renting in England. The first raft of measures affecting tenants will come into force on 1st May this year. So, whether you currently have a tenancy agreement or are planning to rent this year, here are…
Read More