"While average rents increased nationally during the month, much of that growth was driven by stronger-performing regions such as Scotland, London and parts of northern England, rather than a broad-based rise across all areas"
- Megan Eighteen - ARLA Propertymark
UK average rents climbed to £1,467 in May 2026, up 1.5% month-on-month, though the figure remained 0.4% lower than a year earlier.
To secure an average-priced rental home, tenants now typically need an annual salary of £44,010 before tax, according to new data released by ARLA Propertymark, which tracks UK rental affordability across the private rented sector.
The figures revealed that Scotland posted the strongest monthly growth of any region, with average rents rising from £1,167 in April to £1,257 in May, a jump of 7.7%. The salary required to rent in Scotland reached £37,710.
London remained the most expensive market, with monthly costs increasing from £2,259 to £2,307, a 2.1% rise, and the representative salary needed to rent reaching £69,210.
Regional breakdown
The regional picture across the rest of England and Wales was more varied. In the South East, where average rents stand at £1,488, tenants need a salary of £44,640 to rent comfortably. The South West follows at £1,274, requiring £38,220.
The East of England sits at £1,338, with a representative salary of £40,140. Further north, North West rents averaged £1,087, corresponding to a salary requirement of £32,610, while West Midlands rents came in at £1,044, requiring £31,310.
Among the more affordable markets, the East Midlands recorded average rents of £989, with a salary requirement of £29,670, and Yorkshire and Humberside averaged £976, needing £29,280. Wales averaged £1,013, requiring £30,390, and the North East remained the lowest-cost region at £877, with a salary requirement of £26,310.
Yorkshire and Humberside saw the largest annual increase in salary requirements, up 3.5% year-on-year to £29,280. Despite being one of the UK's lower-cost rental markets, the region reflects a pattern seen across much of the country, where the salary needed to secure a rental home has grown faster than rents themselves.
By contrast, the South East and East of England were among the few regions where affordability improved annually, with salary requirements falling 1.8% and 0.9% respectively, alongside broadly stable rental prices.
"May's figures underline how localised rental market conditions have become across the UK," said Megan Eighteen, president of ARLA Propertymark.
"While average rents increased nationally during the month, much of that growth was driven by stronger-performing regions such as Scotland, London and parts of northern England, rather than a broad-based rise across all areas.
"The sharp increase recorded in Scotland highlights the continued imbalance between tenant demand and available rental stock, a challenge that remains evident in several high-pressure markets. At the same time, regions including the South East and East of England have seen modest improvements in affordability measures, demonstrating that market conditions are evolving differently across the country.
"The data also shows that affordability pressures remain a significant concern. In most regions, the salary needed to secure an average-priced rental home has increased over the past year, with particularly notable rises in Yorkshire and Humberside, the North East and Scotland. This suggests that many renters continue to face challenges keeping pace with housing costs despite wider signs of rental growth moderating compared with previous years.
"As the sector adjusts to the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act and wider economic conditions continue to influence landlord and tenant behaviour, regional supply levels will remain a key factor shaping rental trends over the remainder of 2026. Monitoring these local differences will be essential to understanding how affordability and access to housing develop in the months ahead."
