The biggest rent price shifts since last Christmas

Leading lettings management platform, Howsy, has looked at where across the nation makes the rental naughty and nice lists since last Christmas, based on the growth in rental costs over the last 12 months.

Using data from the ONS, Howsy has highlighted the top 15 locations to have seen the biggest increases and decreases in the average rental price since last Christmas.

Nationally

Depending on whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, the naughty and nice lists will differ between rental growth and decline but across the nation as a whole, the cost of renting as edged up 0.9% in the last 12 months.

The largest increase has been in Yorkshire and the Humber with a 5.1% jump, while the North East is the only region to have seen a decline at -1.1%.

Where else has dropped?

Looking locally, tenants in Corby will be full of Christmas cheer with the average cost of renting down -10.5% in the last 12 months, the biggest drop across England. Elmbridge in Surrey has also seen the cost of renting drop by double-digits, down -10%.

Windsor and Maidenhead, Wycombe and Bath and North East Somerset also make the top ten biggest rental declines. At -7.2%, Richmond has seen the largest drop in rental values in London, with Tandridge, Stroud, Rushcliffe and Poole also amongst some of the largest drops.

Where has increased?

It’s not all festive cheer for tenants this Christmas though, particularly those in Exeter, with the average rental cost up 28.7% in the last 12 months. Norwich and Newcastle under Lyme have also seen rental prices jump by more than 20% at 21.1% and 20.5% respectively.

Camden has seen the largest increase in the capital, up 18.8%, along with South Oxfordshire at 16%. The City of London, Westminster, York, Hounslow and Mendip have all seen the average cost of renting increase by more than 10% this year.

Founder and CEO of Howsy, Calum Brannan, commented:

“The change in the cost of renting on a regional basis in the last 12 months alone highlights how diverse the rental market is and how fluctuations in stock levels and tenant demand can make a big difference between one area and the next.

Nationally, rents have increased, for the most part, but it’s not all bad news and while some tenants will be feeling the pinch more so this Christmas, others will be enjoying a reduction in the cost of renting.

With a number of legislative changes introduced this year, the rental sector should become a better, more transparent place for tenants and landlords alike as we head into a new decade and this is something we can all look forward to regardless of the change in rental costs.”

Lowest Rental Growth Nationally and by Region
Location
Rental change growth % (2018-2019)
England
0.9%
North East
-1.1%
London
1.1%
East of England
1.2%
South East
1.4%
East Midlands
1.9%
South West
2.5%
North West
2.6%
West Midlands
3.0%
Yorkshire and the Humber
5.1%
Lowest Rental Growth by Area
Location
Rental change growth % (2018-2019)
Corby
-10.5%
Elmbridge
-10.0%
Windsor and Maidenhead
-9.4%
Wycombe
-8.7%
Bath and North East Somerset
-7.3%
Richmond upon Thames
-7.2%
Tandridge
-7.0%
Stroud
-6.7%
Rushcliffe
-6.2%
Poole
-5.9%
Wealden
-5.7%
Newcastle upon Tyne
-5.5%
Brighton and Hove
-4.9%
Ealing
-4.5%
Middlesbrough
-4.3%
Highest Rental Growth by Area
Location
Rental change growth % (2018-2019)
Exeter
28.7%
Norwich
21.1%
Newcastle-under-Lyme
20.5%
Camden
19.8%
South Oxfordshire
16.0%
City of London
11.7%
Westminster
11.4%
York
11.3%
Hounslow
10.5%
Mendip
10.1%
Broadland
8.6%
Wirral
8.5%
Chiltern
8.2%
Canterbury
8.1%
Sedgemoor
8.1%

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England’s rate hold

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75% for the sixth consecutive time. Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert, says: “The Bank of England’s decision to hold the base rate will come as welcome news to mortgage borrowers, particularly those on tracker mortgages whose monthly repayments move in line with changes to the base…
Read More
yopa sales 2017
Breaking News

54,000 properties hit market during back to school rush

Over 50,000 homes have hit the market since the nation’s schools returned following the summer holidays, with the level of property for sale climbing by as much as 35% across some areas of England, according to the latest research by Yopa. The full-service estate agency analysed the number of homes listed for sale across each…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

69% of homebuyers would compromise on their property

New research from UK Property Development reveals that 69% of recent UK homebuyers would be willing to compromise on the property itself to live in a better location, while 65% say they would pay more for a home if the location was right. The findings, from a survey of 1,016 recent UK homebuyers*, highlight the…
Read More
Breaking News

The UK towns boasting +80% house price growth amid nationwide drop

For the first time since 2023, UK house prices have dropped. However, many areas are bucking the recent news, with strong growth overall in the last 5 and 10 years. The cash house buyers and property experts at Sell House Fast have compiled ‘The Property Prosperity Index’, revealing the best places to buy and sell property…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

London remains destination of choice for international property wealth

The latest research from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that London accounts for 43% of all property titles owned by overseas companies across England and Wales, highlighting the capital’s enduring appeal as an international property investment destination. Benham and Reeves analysed the latest Land Registry Overseas Companies Ownership Data to…
Read More
to let sign 2025
Breaking News

First drop in rental supply in three years pushes rents higher

Rental growth set to accelerate to 4–5 per cent by the end of 2026 as higher mortgage rates keep would-be buyers renting for longer, reducing rental supply UK rents are 2.6 per cent higher in the 12 months to July 2026, up from 1.6 per cent in February and are on track to reach 4-5…
Read More