Average rental price: £1,447
Average annual salary needed: £44,400
Monthly rent change: -5.4%
Annual rent change: +0.9%
Year-on-year trends continue to show only modest movement, with the income required to rent remaining broadly stable across most regions, reinforcing the long-term affordability challenge facing tenants.
According to the latest data released by Propertymark, the most notable shifts in the market are now happening month-on-month. Several regions experienced sharp short-term declines in rent levels as seasonal demand cooled and price sensitivity increased. Yorkshire and Humberside saw a 12.3% drop in the average rent level, while the North East witnessed a decline of 22%.
Some areas are seeing pronounced softening, though others remain more resilient. London, Scotland, and parts of the East of England showed steadier conditions and less short-term volatility.
The market is becoming increasingly uneven. National averages suggest stability, but localised movements highlight how affordability pressures can intensify or ease rapidly depending on timing and location.
"While the private rented sector remains under long-term pressure, recent data shows that some areas have experienced notably sharp falls in rent levels over a very short period," said Megan Eighteen, president of ARLA Propertymark (Association of Residential Letting Agents). "These month-on-month declines suggest a cooling in parts of the market as seasonal demand eases and renters become more price-sensitive."
However, this should not be mistaken for a broader reset in affordability, she added. "Even where rents have dipped, the overall cost of renting remains high relative to incomes, and supply shortages continue to limit choice for tenants. Without meaningful increases in the number of homes available to rent, any short-term softening is likely to be uneven and temporary, rather than a sign of lasting improvement for renters."
