Top of the class – top social classes push rents up by 65%

The latest data by, the UK’s only combined lettings inventory and property compliance specialists, VeriSmart, has looked at what impact top tier social classes have on local rental prices.

VeriSmart grouped thousands of postcodes by the percentage of the population classed within the NRS social grading of AB.

A being upper middle class holding higher managerial, administrative, or professional job roles.

B being middle class holding intermediate managerial, administrative or professional job roles.

VeriSmart then looked at the average rental cost per month across areas where the AB social class accounted for 0-19% of the population, 20-39%, 40-59% and 60-80%.

The research shows that the average rental cost increased by 65% for every increase in the population bracket, with the highest (60-80%) paying £3,013 per month compared to just £692 in the lowest bracket.

The largest jump came between areas where 20-39% of the population were classed AB and 40-59% – with a difference of 57% between the average rent of £972 per month and £1,541 respectively.

Founder of VeriSmart, Jonathan Senior, commented:

Rental demand across any given market can be influenced by a whole host of diverse factors from location, property stock, amenities and even the prestige of the area and the demographic of the population. 

While these factors usually combine to create a greater rental appeal, this research shows that there is a direct correlation between the percentage of the population listed in the AB social class and the rental potential of the local market.

When considering these sorts of factors, those looking to invest in a buy-to-let property can quickly narrow their search to account for these influences and ultimately find the soundest investment to suit their budget.

Percentage of the Population Classed AB
Average Rent per Month
Change (%)
Average Change (%)
60-80
£3,013
96%
65%
40-59
£1,541
57%
20-39
£979
41%
0-19
£692

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

Damaged timber from Dry Rot
Estate Agent Talk

Mould and damp – what you need to know ahead of winter

With the winter months just round the corner, problems with damp and mould can become far more prominent. Autumntime is when many people turn on central heating systems and choose to close windows, preventing fresh air ventilation needed to allow damp air to leave a property. Unfortunately, the combination of warm and damp air can…
Read More
Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – September 2025

London and South East see biggest dips in required rental salary year-on-year London and the South East saw the sharpest dips year-on-year in the average salary needed in order to rent the average home in that area. London saw a 4.2% drop, whilst the South East saw a decline of 2.9%. Yorkshire and Humberside saw…
Read More
buying at auction uk
Breaking News

The cities where buying beats renting – with just a 5% deposit

British first-time buyer mortgage payments are typically 17% cheaper than renting, even with a low 5% deposit The average 5% deposit is £11,412 based on a typical first-time buyer property price of £228,233 Among major cities outside London, the biggest gap between owning and renting is in Glasgow, where buyers could save more than £4,750…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Weekly Mortgage Rates Tracker

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.51% +0.00% -0.37% 5-year fixed 4.55% +0.01% +0.01%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.77% +0.05% -0.07% 5-year fixed 3.97% +0.10% +0.29%   Average…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Data and commentary from Rightmove on stamp duty reforms

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert said: “We’ve been calling for stamp duty reform for some time now, as it’s a significant barrier for many people moving home. Abolishing it completely would remove one of the biggest barriers to moving, unlocking more moves at all stages of the property ladder. “Our data shows that only 5%…
Read More
Breaking News

Second-time buyers dominate demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals

Second-time buyers are dominating demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals, fresh data from Moneyfacts Analyser can reveal. Of those looking for fixed term deals on moneyfactscompare.co.uk: Almost two-thirds (58%) of second-time buyers who compared mortgage deals using the moneyfactscompare.co.uk website were considering terms of three years or longer in the 30 days to 1…
Read More