Why have average asking rents outside London remained flat in early 2026?

Average asking rents outside London have remained flat in early 2026 due to stretched tenant affordability and a more balanced supply and demand in the rental market.

What is the significance of rental prices not increasing at the start of 2026?

It is significant because it is the first time since 2017 that average advertised rents have not increased between the fourth quarter of a year and the first quarter of the next.

Which areas experienced significant rent increases in the past year?

Areas like Iver in Buckinghamshire and Godalming in Surrey experienced significant rent increases, with asking rents rising by 21.8% and 19.8% respectively over the past year.

Home / Business and Economy / UK Rents Freeze: First Time Since 2017!

UK Rents Freeze: First Time Since 2017!

16 Apr

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Summary

Average rents outside London saw no increase between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026.
This marks the first time rents have stagnated at the year's start since 2017.
Over a quarter of rental listings saw price reductions, the highest since 2012.

In a significant shift for the UK rental market, average asking rents outside of London have plateaued. Between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, rents saw a 0.0% change, holding steady at £1,370 per month. This marks the first instance of rents not increasing at the start of a year compared to the previous year's end since 2017.

This market stabilization is attributed to a combination of stretched tenant affordability and a rebalancing of supply and demand. Landlords are increasingly needing to price properties realistically to attract tenants, as evidenced by the highest proportion of price reductions on rental listings since records began in 2012. Homes are also taking longer to let.