Despite London’s reputation as Britain’s priciest rental market, an area outside of the capital holds the title for the most expensive postcode, where tenants are paying nearly three times the South East average and 358% more than the national norm.
Research by property software platform Cohab analysed rental costs across Britain's postcode districts, revealing that tenants in Buckinghamshire’s HP9 area pay an average of £5,920 per month — the highest in Britain. This figure is 279.1% higher than the wider South East average (£1,562) and a staggering 358.4% more than the national average.
London ranks second, where renting in the SW7 postcode costs £5,438 per month — 149.9% above the Greater London average of £2,176.
Elsewhere, Cornwall’s TR11 postcode leads the South West with an average rent of £2,834, 124.8% higher than the regional norm. Meanwhile, Manchester’s M14 postcode is the priciest in the North West at £2,280 per month, commanding a 126.6% premium over the broader area.
At the more affordable end, Swansea’s SA2 postcode is the most expensive in Wales, with an average rent of £1,510 — just 61.5% higher than the national average for Wales (£935), representing the smallest premium across Britain.
“Every region has its prime rental hotspots, but the extent of the rental premium varies. In Buckinghamshire, rents are almost triple the South East average, outpacing even Central London’s most exclusive areas," explained Saveli Kotz, Founder and CEO of Cohab, "Meanwhile, Wales shows a more even distribution of demand, with a smaller gap between average and prime rental prices.
"For tenants, this highlights the value of considering nearby areas when searching for more affordable rental options, as moving just a little further afield can offer significant savings.”
