The UK’s rental hotspots where asking prices have surged in 12 months

Average asking rents outside London stagnate in early 2026; This marks the first time since 2017 that it did not increase between the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

Average advertised rents for homes outside the capital showed a change of 0.0 per cent between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, according to Rightmove.

The unprecedented lack of price growth meant average asking rents remained steady at £1,370 per month.

Rightmove said it was the first time since 2017 that rents had not increased at the start of the year compared to the fourth quarter of the previous year.

In comparison, London saw a quarterly increase of 0.7 per cent, taking the average advertised rent to £2,736 per month in the first three months of 2026.

The property portal said more than a quarter (26 percent) of rental listings saw price reductions, marking the highest rate it has seen at this time of year since records began in 2012.

Rightmove said the average rental house currently receives eight inquiries, down from 11 a year ago and 29 in 2022.

That number is still above the average of five inquiries per rental property before the coronavirus pandemic.

Rightmove said lower tenant demand and more housing choice had reduced competition for rentals and put upward pressure on rents.

It also said affordability pressures on renters remain and more people are likely to reach the ceiling they can afford to pay.

Rightmove property expert Colleen Babcock said: “The fact that rents remained stable this quarter reflects how stretched affordability is, but also how balanced supply and demand are.

“With more homes available to rent and less competition between tenants, landlords need to position rents correctly relative to the current market to find tenants.

“As market conditions rebalance, homes are taking longer to rent. The market is more price sensitive; landlords need to be realistic from the start to secure a tenant and reduce the risk of void periods.”

Adam Jennings, director of housing at Chestertons, said: “Overall (the first quarter of 2026) we have seen a clear recovery in letting activity, particularly towards the end of March, with a noticeable increase in viewings and clearances compared to earlier in the quarter.

“Well-presented, correctly priced properties continue to rent quickly, especially in areas where supply is constrained.”

Rental price hotspots

Despite the slowdown in rent asking, Rightmove has also uncovered some rental price hotspots that have seen significant increases in rent asking over the past year.

Here are the hot spots, followed by the average asking rent in March and the annual increase in average asking rent: