UK average rents in August rose 2.4% compared to the same month a year ago according to Homelet

Homelet Rental Index August 2017 released today 18th September 2017 reveals ‘UK RENTS CONTINUE TO RISE IN AUGUST.’

Average rents across the UK rose by 2.4% in August compared to the same month a year ago, the highest rate of annual inflation since November 2016; the average monthly rent now stands at £939.

Rents in London rose 2.5% in August year-on-year, following three successive months of decline; the average monthly rent in the capital now stands at £1,609.

Commenting on the research, HomeLet’s Chief Executive Officer, Martin Totty said: “Whilst we’ve often observed a seasonal uplift in average rents at this time of year, there’s evidence of a trend now emerging which points to a reversal of the declines seen over the early part of this year. This will be welcome relief to Landlords who have been battered by the perfect storm of tax changes and post-Brexit uncertainties. Whether the trend continues or represents only temporary relief from the headwinds faced by property owners, the remaining months of 2017 should provide the answer.”

Martin Totty added: “Whether the recent strengthening in rents achieved, seen generally across all regions of the country, is driven by more robust demand or by some restriction of supply is hard to judge. Either way, landlords will only be encouraged to invest in property over other assets if they’re convinced they can achieve reasonable returns. If not, then the supply of rental properties could become constrained. Many landlords still face further increases in their costs and so will need to find a new equilibrium between their legitimate required returns and affordability for tenants. It seems the elements in solving that particular equation become ever more complex.”

Read the Homelet Rental Index August 2017 in full click here.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Property auctions generate complaints at four times the rate of the wider housing market

Property auctions account for just 2% of home sales but generate more than four times their share of complaints, according to a new insight report by the Property Ombudsman. The report highlights that while auctions remain a relatively small part of the wider residential property market, they are generating a disproportionately high level of consumer…
Read More
Breaking News

UK rents see upward trend in early 2026

Lomond’s report finds UK average rents rise to £1,384pcm in the first three months of 2026, compared to 2025. Average rent in London reaches £2,339pcm, 69% higher than the UK average. Kent records the network’s highest rental uptick of +9%, in early 2026. Tenant demand strengthens with a +28% increase in viewings activity in 2026.   Lomond observed the average rent across its network of lettings…
Read More
Breaking News

Landlord repossessions rose 6% ahead of Renters’ Rights Act

Landlord possession claims rose by almost 6% in the first quarter of 2026 as property owners moved to regain control of homes before the Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May, according to analysis by LegalforLandlords. LegalforLandlords analysed the latest repossession data* and found that during Q1 2026, a total of 22,733 possession…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Tenant confidence in RRA compliance sits at just 32%

Barely a third of managed tenants believe their management company is compliant following RRA changes   The latest insight from property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, reveals that whilst managing agents had until 31st May to distribute new documentation following the latest RRA implementations, almost 60% of tenants living in managed properties have seen no changes…
Read More
Breaking News

Six issues that make your property unmortgageable

The latest market insight from House Buyer Bureau has revealed six common issues that could see a homeowner’s property deemed unmortgageable by lenders, drastically reducing the pool of potential buyers and making it far harder to sell on the open market. House Buyer Bureau analysed some of the most common reasons properties fail lender criteria, alongside the…
Read More
Breaking News

Homebuyers could make over £26,000 before completion

Buying off-plan: London homebuyers could make over £26,000 before completion The latest research from Foxtons has found that buying a home off-plan can deliver a significant financial uplift, with London buyers potentially making more than £26,000 in added value before they’ve even picked up the keys to their new home. Foxtons analysed average monthly new-build…
Read More