UK tenants facing a tough financial task but it’s tougher for their Swiss, American and Dutch counterparts

Tenants in Switzerland, the United States and the Netherlands are facing the biggest financial hurdle if left unable to work as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown, with rental costs over just three months spiralling above £3,000, falling to £2,232 across the UK

Research by Hamilton Fraser’s deposit alternative scheme, Ome, has revealed the rental costs facing tenants across the nations currently worst affected by the Coronavirus outbreak.

With the impact of the pandemic looking likely to last for at least three months based on the UK Government’s buy-to-let mortgage holiday afforded to UK landlords, Ome looked at the average rental cost across the countries suffering the most. Ome then looked at what this would also equate to should a tenant be unable to pay their rent due to lack of income over the space of three months.

The research shows that the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is at its highest in Switzerland at an average of £1,325 per month; climbing to £3,976 over the space of three months.

The United States is home to the second-largest financial rental hurdle with an average rental cost of £1,168; again climbing to £3,504.

The Netherlands is the only other nation where the average rental cost exceeds £3,000 over three months of lockdown (£3,019), with tenants paying an average of £1,006 per month.

The data shows that the UK sits at number seven with the average monthly rent of £744 meaning a rental shortfall of £2,232 over three months for those unable to generate an income.

Ranking – top 20 by confirmed cases vs 3 month rent loss for landlords
Location
Confirmed Covid-19 cases
Average monthly rent (one bed city centre apartment – 2019)
3 month rent loss for landlords
Switzerland
17,768
£1,325
£3,976
United States
216,721
£1,168
£3,504
Netherlands
13,696
£1,006
£3,019
Australia
5,105
£873
£2,619
Israel
6,211
£826
£2,478
Canada
9,731
£791
£2,373
United Kingdom
29,865
£744
£2,232
Sweden
4,947
£735
£2,205
Germany
78,258
£693
£2,078
Belgium
13,964
£687
£2,061
Austria
10,711
£684
£2,053
France
57,763
£645
£1,934
Spain
104,118
£631
£1,893
Portugal
8,251
£600
£1,801
Italy
110,574
£576
£1,729
South Korea
9,976
£484
£1,452
Iran
47,593
£470
£1,409
China
82,735
£461
£1,382
Brazil
6,931
£225
£674
Turkey
15,679
£171
£514

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

AI in estate agency letting agency property
Breaking News

Can AI-powered search platform push out Rightmove for renters?

Boss of global architecture firm takes on Rightmove with AI-powered search platform where renters describe where they want to live An AI-powered start-up launched by the former boss of a major architecture business wants to disrupt the duopoly of Rightmove and Zoopla by enabling renters to find homes by using normal everyday language – as…
Read More
Breaking News

Midlands sees largest property management fees increase

The latest research from Rushbrook & Rathbone has found that property management fees in the Midlands have increased by an estimated 53.9% over the past decade, the fastest rate of growth across England’s regions, highlighting a widening divide in costs between the North, Midlands, and South. The research analysed average rental values across England’s regions…
Read More
Breaking News

Continued season momentum with applicant demand up for lettings

Foxtons Lettings Market Index – May 2026 Continued season momentum with applicant demand up month on month and supply increasing.   The season’s momentum carried on undeterred. Applicant demand climbed sharply month on month, supply held ahead of last year and the market stayed balanced through it all. Competition eased compared with last year, with…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 22/6/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Eco Approach Collaborate with Leading UK Buy-to-Let Lender The Mortgage Works to Deliver Free Energy Assessments for Landlords Ahead of 2030 Deadline. Eco Approach selected as the expert retrofit partner for a major new energy efficiency pilot. Initiative addresses critical knowledge gap, with 67% of UK…
Read More
Breaking News

How to secure a rented home if you used to pay rent up front

One change that has come into effect under the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) is that landlords may no longer accept more than one month’s rent in advance of a tenancy beginning. Previously, there was no limit to how much rent tenants could pay up front to secure a property, which was particularly helpful in certain…
Read More
Kerb appeal
Breaking News

Whoever Leads Britain Next Must Focus on Growth, Housing and Opportunity

Neil Louth – Group Executive Director, LRG and CEO, Acorn Group From my perspective, the question is less about who occupies Number 10 and more about what they do once they get there. Whether it is Sir Keir Starmer continuing in office, Andy Burnham emerging as a future challenger, or someone else entirely, the next…
Read More