RENTAL PRICE INFLATION SLOWS, OCTOBER HOMELET RENTAL INDEX REVEALS

  • Average rents across the UK rose by 0.9% in October when compared to the same month a year ago; the average monthly rent is now £909
  • Rents in London rose 0.6% in October, year-on-year; the average monthly rent in the capital now stands at £1,556
  • On an annualised basis, rents rose in 11 out of the 12 regions of the UK covered by the research; however, the average rents secured in October were lower than in September in every region, contributing to a significant slowing in the annual rate of inflation.

 

About our data: HomeLet Rental Index provides the most comprehensive and up to date data on new tenancies in the UK. As part of referencing prospective tenants each year, HomeLet processes information including the rental amounts agreed, the number of tenants moving into the property, together with the employment status, income and age of all tenants. The trends reported within the HomeLet Rental Index are brand new tenancies which were arranged in the most recent period, giving the most relevant insight into changes in the Private Rented Sector. This is in contrast to many other rental indices which are based on all properties which are being managed, which may have had rental amounts agreed as long as two years ago.

 

Rents in the UK rose by an average of 0.9% during October, new data from HomeLet reveals, the fourth successive month of increases following a short period of falling rents in the Spring. The average rent agreed on a new tenancy signed in October was £909 according to the October HomeLet Rental Index, compared to £901 in the same month of last year.

However, while October’s average increase reflects higher rents recorded in 11 out of the 12 areas of the country that HomeLet monitors – the South-East was the exception – the pace of rental price inflation has slowed. October’s 0.9% increase follows rises of 2.0% and 2.4% in September and August respectively. Indeed, on a monthly basis, rents on new tenancies in October were lower in every area of the country than in September.

The national picture was reflected in London where annualised rental price inflation was 0.6% in October, down from 1.8% and 2.5% in September and August. The average tenancy agreed in London last month cost £1,556, compared to £1,593 in September. HomeLet’s regional data is available in more detail via an online interactive infographic.

Rental figures from the October 2017 HomeLet Rental Index

Region Average rent in October 2017 Average rent in September 2017 Average rent in October 2016 Monthly variation Annual variation
East Midlands £618 £620 £596 -0.3% 3.6%
Northern Ireland £625 £636 £604 -1.7% 3.4%
West Midlands £683 £692 £663 -1.3% 2.9%
North West £692 £697 £676 -0.7% 2.3%
Yorkshire & Humberside £628 £630 £615 -0.3% 2.1%
Scotland £621 £628 £608 -1.1% 2.1%
North East £528 £529 £518 -0.2% 1.9%
South West £790 £814 £777 -2.9% 1.6%
Wales £612 £617 £603 -0.8% 1.5%
Greater London £1,556 £1,593 £1,547 -2.3% 0.6%
East of England £901 £914 £899 -1.4% 0.2%
South East £977 £1,001 £985 -2.4% -0.8%
UK £909 £927 £901 -1.9% 0.9%
UK excluding Greater London £755 £766 £744 -1.4% 1.5%
Notes:

 

Based on new tenancies in October 2017 Based on new tenancies in September 2017 Based on new tenancies in October 2016 Comparison of average rent in October 2017 and September 2017 Comparison of average rent in October 2017 and October 2016

 

 

HomeLet Rental Index Regional Variance Figures for October 2017

Shared by: Hayley Collins – McGrory Communications

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Council funding to crack down on rogue landlords

English councils are set to receive additional funding and training to help tackle rogue landlords, ahead of taking on new responsibilities when renters’ rights reforms come into force next month. All 317 local authorities in England will share £41 million in funding, building on an earlier £18 million allocation made last autumn. The funding is…
Read More
New Builds 2020
Breaking News

Fewer than 1 in 5 new properties securing buyer

New-build demand remains subdued as fewer than 1 in 5 homes find buyers in Q1 2026 The latest New-Build Stock and Demand Index from Property Inspect has found that demand for new-build homes remained subdued in the first quarter of 2026, with fewer than one in five new properties securing a buyer. New-build stock levels…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Top five AML red flags in UK property transactions

Cash-heavy and internationally supported purchases continue to shape the UK market New data from client due diligence platform Thirdfort reveals the most common anti-money laundering (AML) red flags identified in UK property transactions. Analysis of more than 415,000 completed Source of Funds (SoF) checks shows that the top five red flags are: Savings mismatch – 43.04% Gifted…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Discover Northern Ireland’s top emerging investment hotspots

Derry/ Londonderry and Fermanagh named Northern Ireland’s top emerging investment hotspots Northern Ireland’s emerging investment hotspots are delivering compelling opportunities for landlords in 2026, with new research from Belfast-based estate agency John Minnis revealing a shift in where investors are finding the strongest returns. Drawing on insights from the latest John Minnis Investment Guide, the…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 13/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Why customisation matters more than capability Thought Leadership by Wes Snow CEO & Co-founder of Ascendix Technologies ‘There’s a persistent misconception that success with Artificial Intelligence comes down to selecting the most advanced or sophisticated tool. In reality, that’s not where the value lies. The real…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

First-time buyers pay extra £307m in stamp duty since relief ended

New Rightmove analysis reveals that since the end of the temporary relief measure in April 2025, first-time buyers in England have paid an estimated £307 million extra in stamp duty, averaging £4,618 more per buyer: The total estimated first-time buyer stamp duty bill over the past year was £408 million, versus £101 million the previous year In April 2025 the first-time buyer stamp duty threshold was lowered from £425,000 to £300,000. Before the change 62% of homes for sale were stamp-duty free for first-time buyers and that has…
Read More