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Tenants are paying an average of £87 more per month than a year ago to rent a private home, according to the latest official data.
The average UK monthly rent increased by 7 per cent to £1,339 in the 12 months to May 2025.
However, this figure shows a slowdown in annual rent growth, which has fallen for the fifth consecutive month, down from a 7.4 per cent rise in April, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Private rent inflation in England was highest in the North East at 9.7 per cent and lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber at 3.7 per cent for the year.
The average rent for England was £1,394 in May — up 7.1 per cent (£92) from a year earlier. This annual increase was lower than the 7.5 per cent rise recorded in the 12 months to April 2025 and marks the sixth consecutive month of slowing annual inflation.
The average rent for Wales was £799 in May, up 8.5 per cent (£63) from a year earlier. This annual rise was slightly lower than the 8.7 per cent increase in the 12 months to April 2025, and below the record-high annual rise for Wales of 9.9 per cent recorded in November 2023.
The North East continues to have the highest annual rent inflation rate, at 9.7 per cent in the 12 months to May. This is up from 9.4 per cent in the 12 months to April and is a record high for the North East since data recording began in 2015.
Rent inflation remained lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber, at 3.7 per cent in the 12 months to May. This was lower than the 4.0 per cent rise in the 12 months to April and marks the eleventh consecutive month of slowing annual inflation in the region.
Rents in London rose by 7.7 per cent in the 12 months to May, down from 8.4 per cent in the previous 12 months.
Average rent was highest in London (£2,249) and lowest in the North East (£733) in May 2025.
| **Region** | **Rent** | **Annual change** |
|---|---|---|
| North East | £733.00 | 9.70 per cent |
| North West | £905.00 | 8.40 per cent |
| East | £1,236.00 | 8.20 per cent |
| London | £2,249.00 | 7.70 per cent |
| East MIdlands | £881.00 | 7.70 per cent |
| West Midlands | £927.00 | 6.90 per cent |
| South East | £1,377.00 | 6.60 per cent |
| South West | £1,175.00 | 4.90 per cent |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £819.00 | 4.90 per cent |
Source: ONS
The average rent was highest in Kensington and Chelsea, London (£3,643) in May 2025, and lowest in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (£524). Excluding London, the area with the highest average rent in May 2025 was Elmbridge, Surrey (£1,868).
Newport’s annual rent inflation rate has stabilised at high levels following rapid price rises in winter 2024, as also reported by Welsh rent officers. This led to record-high annual growth of 21.4 per cent in the 12 months to January 2025.