Rental prices continue to increase ahead of tenant fee ban – Comments from industry

  • Private rental prices paid by tenants in the UK rose by 1.1% in the 12 months to February 2019, up from 1.0% in January 2019.
  • In England and Wales, private rental prices grew by 1.1%, while in Scotland private rental prices increased by 0.7% in the 12 months to February 2019.
  • London private rental prices rose by 0.2% in the 12 months to February 2019, up from 0.1% in January 2019.

Co-founder of ideal flatmate, Tom Gatzen, commented:

Broadly speaking, the annual rate of rental growth across the UK remains at its most palatable for the last three years, however these consistent uplifts, regardless of how marginal, continue to put pressure on the already strained cost of living for tenants across the nation.

Rents remain higher than they were this time last year and so far in 2019, we’ve seen an uplift in the rate of growth which will no doubt continue as we approach the impending ban on tenant fees. As a result, the rental sector continues to strain under the overwhelming demand as many remain unable to make the financial leap to homeownership.

So far a consistent attack on the buy-to-let sector has only exacerbated the issue and with the Government now turning their focus on letting agents, it’s a certainty that we will see lost revenue passed onto tenants under various guises with rents continuing to increase as a result.

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Mortgage Lending Statistics – December 2025

Latest findings The outstanding value of all residential mortgage loans increased by 0.9% from the previous quarter to £1,733.7 billion, and was 2.9% higher than a year earlier. The value of gross mortgage advances increased by 36.9% from the previous quarter to £80.4 billion, the largest increase in new advances since 2020 Q3, and was…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England interest rates decision – Thoughts from the Industry

The Bank of England has just announced its decision to cut the base rate to 3.75%, the first cut seen since August of this year. This decision comes after inflation (CPI) dropped to 3.2% in November (from 3.6% in October), slowly edging towards the Bank’s 2.0% target. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour…
Read More
Breaking News

A Winter Rate Cut to Thaw the Market

By Kevin Shaw, National Sales Managing Director, LRG Today’s reduction in interest rates is very welcome news – for homeowners, buyers, property professionals, and no doubt Government ministers. This warming news is set against a chilly backdrop: unemployment has increased to 5.1%, while the November Budget tightened the fiscal screws. Inflation, however, has eased to…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 18/12/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio” UK Estate Agents to go Danish style Government suggests professionalising property agents by adopting the Danish protocol Extract from the Open consultation Government Home Buying and Selling reform consultation – closing date 29th December ‘Estate agents play a pivotal…
Read More
Breaking News

2026 Predictions for the Lettings Sector

By Allison Thompson, National Lettings Managing Director, Leaders “The Renters’ Rights Bill will be the defining influence on the sector in 2026. While it raises the bar for professionalism and improves standards for tenants, it also represents the biggest operational shift landlords and agents have faced in a generation. Long-standing tenancy practices are changing, and…
Read More
Breaking News

The unexpected areas driving the UK property market

The latest market analysis from eXp UK shows that it is Derbyshire, Melton and Oldham that have driven UK house price growth over the last year, having posted the strongest annual increases of all UK local authorities. As another year comes to a close, eXp UK has analysed annual house price growth across the UK…
Read More