Rents dip in some regions but affordability crisis continues

Affordability pressures remain despite a slowdown in rental prices, according to a new report.

Propertymark’s rent price and salary tracker reveals December saw the usual seasonal slowdown, with some regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber seeing a dramatic drop in rent prices.

Propertymark warns without “meaningful increases in the number of homes available to rent”, rent prices will continue to rise in some areas.

Private rented sector remains under long-term pressure

According to the report, average rents fell in several regions between December 2024 and December 2025.

Yorkshire and the Humber recorded a 12.3% decline, while the North East saw a sharper drop of 22%. London experienced a more modest fall of 2.5%.

However, rents increased in Northern Ireland over the same period, rising by 2.3%.

As a result, the average salary required to secure a home there rose from £26,130 in December 2024 to £28,350 in December 2025.

Wales also saw affordability pressures increase, with the average salary needed to secure a home rising by 2.8%, from £32,070 to £33,120.

Megan Eighteen, President of ARLA Propertymark (Association of Residential Letting Agents), said that while there are some positive signs, affordability pressures continue to mount for renters.

She said: “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. 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. 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.”