Rental price and average salary tracker – May 2026
Scottish Rent Surge Drives Regional Growth as Affordability Pressures Persist Across UK
- Scotland recorded the strongest monthly rental growth of any UK region, with average rents rising from £1,167 in April to £1,257 in May (+7.7%), pushing the typical salary required to secure a home to £37,710.
- London average monthly costs increased from £2,259 to £2,307 (+2.1%), and the representative salary needed to rent reached £69,210.
- Yorkshire and Humberside saw the largest annual increase in salary requirements, rising by 3.5% year-on-year to £29,280, reflecting growing affordability pressures despite remaining one of the UK’s lower-cost rental markets.
- The South East and East of England were among the few regions to see annual affordability improve, with the salary required to rent falling by 1.8% and 0.9% respectively, alongside relatively stable rental prices.
This monthly report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current private rented sector in the UK by examining the average agreed rental prices alongside the typical average annual salary required by referencing agencies to affordably rent across various regions. By exploring these key indicators, we aim to shed light on the affordability and accessibility of private rented housing relative to income levels, offering valuable insights, especially for those navigating the dynamic landscape of the UK’s housing market.
May 2026:
| Location | Average rental price | Representative average annual salary needed to secure the average-priced home (before tax and any deductions) |
| Scotland | £1,257 | £37,710 |
| Wales | £1,013 | £30,390 |
| East Midlands | £989 | £29,670 |
| East of England | £1,338 | £40,140 |
| London (inner and outer London) | £2,307 | £69,210 |
| North East | £877 | £26,310 |
| North West | £1,087 | £32,610 |
| South East | £1,488 | £44,640 |
| South West | £1,274 | £38,220 |
| West Midlands | £1,044 | £31,310 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £976 | £29,280 |
May 2025 (for comparison):
| Location | Average rental price | Representative average annual salary needed to secure the average-priced home (before tax and any deductions) |
| Scotland | £1,229 | £36,870 |
| Wales | £993 | £29,790 |
| East Midlands | £983 | £29,490 |
| East of England | £1,350 | £40,500 |
| London (inner and outer London) | £2,287 | £68,610 |
| North East | £852 | £25,560 |
| North West | £1,068 | £32,040 |
| South East | £1,516 | £45,480 |
| South West | £1,260 | £37,800 |
| West Midlands | £1,042 | £31,260 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £943 | £28,290 |
Change seen in the average salary required year on year:
| Location | May 2025 – typical annual salary needed to secure a home (before tax and deductions) | May 2026 – typical annual salary needed to secure a home (before tax and deductions) | % change in salary needed |
| Scotland | £36,870 | £37,710 | +2.3% |
| Wales | £29,790 | £30,390 | +2% |
| East Midlands | £29,490 | £29,670 | +0.6% |
| East of England | £40,500 | £40,140 | -0.9% |
| London (inner and outer London) | £68,610 | £69,210 | +0.9% |
| North East | £25,560 | £26,310 | +2.9% |
| North West | £32,040 | £32,610 | +1.8% |
| South East | £45,480 | £44,640 | -1.8% |
| South West | £37,800 | £38,220 | +1.1% |
| West Midlands | £31,260 | £31,310 | +0.2% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £28,290 | £29,280 | +3.5% |
Average monthly rental price month-on-month comparison (April 2026 – May 2026):
| Location | Average monthly rental price – April 2026 | Average monthly rental price – May 2026 | Percentage change (difference from April to May) |
| Scotland | £1,167 | £1,257 | +7.7% |
| Wales | £1,009 | £1,013 | +0.4% |
| East Midlands | £987 | £989 | +0.2% |
| East of England | £1,348 | £1,338 | -0.7% |
| London (inner and outer London) | £2,259 | £2,307 | +2.1% |
| North East | £836 | £877 | +4.9% |
| North West | £1,061 | £1,087 | +2.5% |
| South East | £1,482 | £1,488 | +0.4% |
| South West | £1,284 | £1,274 | -0.8% |
| West Midlands | £1,033 | £1,044 | +1.1% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £950 | £976 | +2.7% |
Megan Eighteen, President of ARLA Propertymark (Association of Residential Letting Agents), comments:
“May’s figures underline how localised rental market conditions have become across the UK. While average rents increased nationally during the month, much of that growth was driven by stronger-performing regions such as Scotland, London and parts of northern England, rather than a broad-based rise across all areas.
“The sharp increase recorded in Scotland highlights the continued imbalance between tenant demand and available rental stock, a challenge that remains evident in several high-pressure markets. At the same time, regions including the South East and East of England have seen modest improvements in affordability measures, demonstrating that market conditions are evolving differently across the country.
“The data also shows that affordability pressures remain a significant concern. In most regions, the salary needed to secure an average-priced rental home has increased over the past year, with particularly notable rises in Yorkshire and Humberside, the North East and Scotland. This suggests that many renters continue to face challenges keeping pace with housing costs despite wider signs of rental growth moderating compared with previous years.
“As the sector adjusts to the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act and wider economic conditions continue to influence landlord and tenant behaviour, regional supply levels will remain a key factor shaping rental trends over the remainder of 2026. Monitoring these local differences will be essential to understanding how affordability and access to housing develop in the months ahead.”
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