As a result, real rental growth (rental growth adjusted for inflation), has fallen -2.2% in Great Britain since October 2008. Over the last decade rents have risen 22%, but inflation has risen 24% over the same period.
The East and London are the only regions across Great Britain where rental growth has outpaced inflation. In the East, real rents have risen 7.5% over the last 10 years. Meanwhile in London, real rents are up 0.5% since October 2008.
However, inflation has outpaced rental growth in all other regions across Great Britain, resulting in negative real rental growth. The Midlands has seen the biggest fall in real rents, down -7.8% since October 2008. Whereas real rents in the North have fallen -6.9% as inflation has outpaced rental growth.
The average cost of a new let in Great Britain rose to £977 pcm in October as rental growth accelerated to 2.0%. Rental growth reached the highest level since February 2018 as every region recorded a rise in rents.. The East of England saw the biggest increase in rents, up 3.9% year-on-year, while Scotland saw the slowest rental growth at 1.1%. Meanwhile rents in London grew for the second consecutive month, up 1.4% year-on-year.
Aneisha Beveridge, Head of Research, Hamptons International, said: “Real rents in Great Britain have been falling for the last 21 consecutive months. This comes as a result of sluggish rental growth and a post-EU referendum backdrop of rising inflation. However, this could be set to change as inflation begins to fade and rental growth starts to pick up pace. Currently the East and London are the only regions where real rents have risen over the last decade.
Rental growth accelerated to 2.0% in October, the highest level since February. Every region recorded higher rents, with the East leading the way. Rental growth in London also picked up, driven by a 2.7% annual rise in Inner London rents.”
