The ONS reported that rents in England increased by 5% to £1,416 on average, while in Wales the rise was steeper, at 6.7%, bringing the average rent to £817

UK monthly private rents rose by 5% to £1,360 in the year to October as house price growth slowed, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That’s compared with an annual rise of 5.5% in September.

The ONS reported that rents in England increased by 5% to £1,416 on average, while in Wales the rise was steeper, at 6.7%, bringing the average rent to £817. In Scotland, rents increased by 3.4% to £1,008, and in Northern Ireland they rose by 6.6%, reaching £866 in the 12 months to August.

In England, the North East saw the highest annual rent inflation, with an increase of 8.9%, while Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the lowest rise at 3.8%. Rent levels varied significantly across the country, with London topping the charts at £2,265, and the North East having the lowest average rent at £756.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Rent rises slowed again in October, so the average is up 5% in a year.

This is good news for hard-pressed tenants, because it’s a long way from the peaks of 9% we saw in 2024, but the impact of such a long period of runaway rents is still taking a toll, she said.

In London, life is especially tough, because average monthly rents will set you back an eye-watering £2,265. As landlords continue to sell up, we can expect the pressure to remain on renters, she added.

The highest rents were found in central London, specifically Kensington and Chelsea, where the average reached a staggering £3,633. At the other end of the scale were Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland with an average of £531 a month. Excluding London, Oxford in the South East had the highest average rent at £1,915.

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: An increase in rental prices highlights the continuing pressures faced by the private rented sector. While rising rents may reflect strong demand and limited supply, they also intensify the affordability challenges many tenants are already experiencing.

Emerson said: Letting agents and landlords will need to navigate these conditions carefully, ensuring any increases remain fair and sustainable. Policymakers must recognise that persistent rental inflation points to a system struggling to meet demand and respond with measures that encourage more homes into the sector rather than driving landlords out.