Average rent outside of London soars to £1,190 a month – up 9.4%

Rents outside London rise to an average of £1,190 a month as tenants battle over a lack of properties to rent out

  • Rents rose by 9.4% last year while supply increased
  • In London, the average rent passed £2,500 for the first time

Rents outside London have reached an all-time high of £1,190 per month according to the latest data from Rightmove.

Rental costs outside the capital have now risen for 13 consecutive months as supply remains limited despite signs of improvement.

Rental growth outside London has slowed slightly over the past three quarters.

Monthly expenses rose 9.4 percent last year, compared to annual growth of 9.7 percent in the last quarter of 2022.

Rents in Britain have risen by an average of £100 per month over the past year

The increase adds about £100 to the average tenant’s monthly costs, costing them an extra £1,2000 a year.

An important reason for this is that demand increased by 48 percent in 2019, while the number of available homes fell by 46 percent in the same period.

The number of available rental homes is now 6 percent higher than last year, but at the same time demand has risen by 4 percent.

In London, average rents asked surpassed £2,500 for the first time, setting a new record of £2,501 per month. There are signs that the pace of rent increases is also slowing in the capital, as this quarter’s 0.9 percent increase is the lowest in two years.

Tim Bannister, of Rightmove, said: ‘We’ve seen some early signs of improvement this year with regard to the tight supply, but as there is currently no significant influx of new homes available to rent, the mismatch will continue for some time. .

“Many estate agents have to manage a very large number of tenant applications for every property they rent out in today’s market.

“Properties in popular areas within an affordable demand rent range of that area are likely to be snapped up almost immediately, and on average, homes are finding tenants much faster than this time in 2019.

“While there are some early signs that the gap between supply and demand is starting to narrow, it will still feel very competitive for renters trying to get a home.”

There are only five parts of Britain where rents for tenants have fallen over the past year, exclusive data for This is Money shows.

Rents have risen across the country for 13 consecutive months, although the rate of price growth is now slowing

Rents have risen across the country for 13 consecutive months, although the rate of price growth is now slowing

Burnley, Lancashire, saw the biggest fall in asking rents with prices falling an average of 7 per cent to £620 a month.

By contrast, in Buckinghamshire’s High Wycombe, rents were up 22.4 per cent over the past year, adding £240 a month to the average rent in the area.

Tenants in Farnham, Surrey saw their rents rise 21.9 per cent over the year to £1,491 per month.

What to do if you need a mortgage

Borrowers who need to find a mortgage because their current fixed-rate contract is about to expire, or because they have agreed on a home purchase, should explore their options as soon as possible.

This is Money’s best mortgage interest calculator powered by L&C that can show you deals that match your mortgage and property value

What if I have to borrow again?

Borrowers should compare rates and speak with a mortgage broker and be prepared to trade to secure a rate.

Anyone with a fixed-rate deal expiring in the next six to nine months should research how much it would cost them to re-mortgage now — and consider getting a new deal.

Most mortgage agreements allow fees to be added to the loan and are not charged until it is closed. By doing this, borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees.

What if I buy a house?

Those with an agreed home purchase should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be.

Homebuyers should be careful not to overextend themselves and be prepared for the possibility that house prices could fall from their current highs, due to higher mortgage rates limiting people’s borrowing capacity.

Compare mortgage payments

The best way to compare mortgage rates and find the right deal for you is to talk to a good real estate agent.

You can use our best mortgage interest calculator to display deals that match your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed interest needs.

However, bear in mind that rates can change quickly, so if you need a mortgage it’s advice to compare rates and then speak to an estate agent as soon as possible so they can help you find the right one mortgage for you.

> Check out the best fixed rate mortgages you can apply for