Regional rent gaps widen across UK – Propertymark

Scotland, Northern Ireland and London recorded some of the largest monthly rent rises in April, while Wales and parts of northern England moved the other way, Propertymark says.

The organisation’s latest rent and salary tracker shows Scotland’s average monthly rent rising from £1,123 in March to £1,167 in April, a 3.9% increase.

Northern Ireland saw rents increase from £887 to £920, up 3.7% month on month.

The annual salary needed to secure an average-priced home there fell from £28,290 in April 2025 to £27,600 this year, down 2.4%.

Big regional differences

Megan Eighteen, the president of ARLA Propertymark, said: “The latest figures continue to show a highly regionalised rental market, with some areas experiencing noticeable monthly growth while others are seeing mild corrections.

“This divergence reflects ongoing imbalances between supply and demand across different parts of the UK, rather than a uniform national trend.”

She added: “While rental inflation has generally moderated compared with previous peaks, the most recent data highlights that conditions remain mixed, with continued pressure in higher-demand locations such as London and Scotland, alongside softer or declining rents in parts of Wales and northern England.

“Looking ahead, the market remains sensitive to broader economic conditions and evolving regulatory changes.”

London’s rents rise

Propertymark also says that London moved higher after a previous dip, with average rents rising from £2,193 in March to £2,259 in April.

That left the typical salary needed to secure an average-priced home in the capital at £67,770, compared with £67,410 a year earlier.

Wales recorded a monthly fall, with average rents dropping from £1,044 in March to £1,009 in April, down 3.4%.

The North East also fell, from £862 to £836, a 3% decrease, while the North West dropped from £1,089 to £1,061, down 2.6%.

Where rents fell

In the South East, average rents slipped from £1,495 to £1,482, a 0.9% fall and the South West fell from £1,309 to £1,284, down 1.9%.

The West Midlands moved from £1,040 to £1,033, down 0.7%.

The East of England rose from £1,328 to £1,348, up 1.5%, while the East Midlands increased from £979 to £987, up 0.8%.

Yorkshire and Humberside edged up from £945 to £950, a 0.5% rise.

Salary needs to rent

Year on year, Yorkshire and Humberside saw the largest increase in the salary needed to secure an average-priced home, rising from £27,810 in April 2025 to £28,500 in April 2026, up 2.5%.

The East of England and South West both recorded 1.4% annual increases in the salary requirement.

Scotland rose 1.1%, Wales increased 1%, and the East Midlands moved up 0.8%.

The North East saw the sharpest annual fall in the salary needed, dropping from £26,280 to £25,080, down 4.6%.

The South East fell 1.5%, the West Midlands was down 1.2%, and the North West decreased 1%.