The data shows private renter households and social and other renter households each recorded annual inflation of 3.7%, the highest of all tenure types.
However, both groups saw inflation ease compared with December 2025, when private renters recorded inflation of 3.8% and social and other renters saw a rate of 3.9%.
By comparison, mortgagors and outright owner occupiers each recorded annual inflation of 3.6%, the lowest rate across all tenure types. For mortgagors, this marked a slight fall from 3.7% in December, while outright owner occupiers saw an increase from 3.4%.
Overall UK household costs, as measured by the Household Costs Index, rose by 3.6% in the year to March 2026, unchanged from December 2025.
The Household Costs Indices measure how changing prices and costs affect different household groups. They differ from CPI and CPIH, which track price changes across goods and services consumed by all UK households.
Damien Burke, head of regulatory practice at Broadstone, said: "Today’s figures underline the inflation realities facing UK households, with renters continuing to experience higher cost pressures than homeowners. Housing costs remain a major driver, particularly for private renters, where rising rents are continuing to absorb a larger share of disposable income.
"While headline inflation has moderated from recent peaks, many renters are still contending with elevated living costs alongside affordability pressures and limited capacity to build savings."
Burke said the data supported the case for policy and regulation that helps more renters move into homeownership, particularly where they can demonstrate affordability.
He added: "The FCA’s mortgage market review suggests that the direction of travel is beginning to move towards affordability assessments that better reflect real borrower behaviour and lifetime income patterns."
