UK RENTS NOW FALL FOR FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS, MAY HOMELET RENTAL INDEX REVEALS
- Rents in the UK fell by 0.3% in May compared to the same month a year ago, the first such fall since December 2009; the average monthly rent now stands at £901
- Rents in London fell by 3.0% in May compared to May 2016, the most substantial fall for 8 years
- HomeLet’s May Rental Index reveals that rents fell in five out of the 12 regions of the UK
| 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. |
UK rental price inflation fell for the first time in almost eight years in May, new data from HomeLet reveals. The average rent on a new tenancy commencing in May was £901, 0.3% lower than in the same month of 2016. New tenancies on rents in London were 3% lower than this time last year.
May’s decrease in average rental values marks a significant moment for the rented property sector. This is the first time since December 2009 the HomeLet Rental Index has reported a fall in rents on an annualised basis. The pace of rental price inflation across the UK has been slowing in recent months, having peaked at 4.7% last summer.
In addition to the fall in rents in the capital, four other regions of the UK saw rents on new tenancies decline during May. The North-East of England, the South-East, Yorkshire & Humberside, and Scotland registered falls ranging from 2.3% to 0.6%.
The slowdown in the rental sector mirrors a similar picture elsewhere in the housing market, with Nationwide Building Society revealing in June that house prices had fallen in each of the past three months.
The slowdown in the London market has seen average rents fall from £1,572 a month last July to £1,502 in May. Last month’s 3.0% annualised fall was the steepest decline seen in the capital since 2009.
Commenting on the research, HomeLet’s Chief Executive Officer, Martin Totty said:
“May 2017 saw average rents nationally fall for the first time in eight years when the economy had suffered the shock of the financial crisis. HomeLet rental data suggests landlords are now facing a difficult balancing act between ensuring rents are affordable for tenants in a low real wage growth environment whilst covering their own rising costs.
“Tenants will still need a vibrant and growing rented sector to provide them with property options at the time of their choosing. Any constraint to the supply of rental properties, because landlords are unable to achieve the reasonable returns they require, cannot be in the long term best interests of tenants, especially if, as we’ve now heard from all the main political parties, the UK’s population continues to grow.”
Rental figures from the May 2017 HomeLet Rental Index
| Region | Average rent in May 2017 | Average rent in April 2017 | Average rent in May 2016 | Monthly variation | Annual variation |
| East Midlands | £614 | £604 | £595 | 1.6% | 3.3% |
| North West | £679 | £677 | £664 | 0.2% | 2.2% |
| South West | £803 | £802 | £787 | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| Wales | £605 | £610 | £594 | -0.8% | 1.8% |
| East of England | £909 | £904 | £904 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Northern Ireland | £609 | £614 | £606 | -0.9% | 0.4% |
| West Midlands | £658 | £661 | £656 | -0.5% | 0.3% |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | £614 | £619 | £618 | -0.7% | -0.6% |
| South East | £998 | £1,003 | £1,014 | -0.4% | -1.5% |
| Scotland | £622 | £632 | £634 | -1.6% | -1.9% |
| North East | £522 | £525 | £534 | -0.7% | -2.3% |
| Greater London | £1,502 | £1,519 | £1,548 | -1.1% | -3.0% |
| UK | £901 | £904 | £904 | -0.3% | -0.3% |
| UK excluding Greater London | £753 | £754 | £750 | -0.1% | 0.5% |
| Notes:
|
Based on new tenancies in May 2017 | Based on new tenancies in April 2017 | Based on new tenancies in May 2016 | Comparison of average rent in May 2017 and April 2017 | Comparison of average rent in May 2017 and May 2016 |
Breaking news by Hayley Hayley@mcgrorycommunications.com
You May Also Enjoy
Rent Increases Under Review: What Landlords Need to Know
Breaking Property News 9/09/25
Industry reacts as Renters’ Rights Bill set to become law
We asked housemates what really matters when living together
The Rise of DIY Law: 8 Disputes Brits Are Handling Without Solicitors
