More than half of renters across the UK are staying put, even though many would prefer to move, according to new research from SpareRoom. The study found that 56% of tenants want to move but feel unable to, with financial pressures and housing shortages being the main reasons behind their decision to stay.
Among flatsharers aged 40 and above, this trend is even more pronounced, with 61% choosing to remain in their current homes compared to 52% of younger renters under 40. The data highlights how widespread affordability concerns have become, particularly for those looking to relocate in today’s competitive rental market.
One of the biggest barriers to moving is affordability. Around 73% of renters said available homes are simply out of their budget. The cost of renting has surged in recent years, with average room rents rising by 28% across the UK to a record £753 per month. In London, where demand is highest, prices have climbed by an even steeper 37%, bringing the average room rent close to £1,000 per month.
In addition to rising costs, renters are facing intense competition and limited availability. SpareRoom’s data shows that 44% of tenants are struggling to find suitable properties, while 32% said the number of people competing for rooms is too high. In the third quarter of 2025, there were four renters searching for every available room across the country, underscoring how difficult it has become to secure accommodation.
Financial pressure isn’t the only issue keeping renters in place. Many tenants also report avoiding communication with their landlords or letting agents, even when problems arise in their homes. Nearly half—45%—admitted they had deliberately avoided raising maintenance concerns over the past year.
The main reason for staying silent, cited by 58% of respondents, was fear of triggering a rent increase. Others, around 42%, felt their landlord or agent wouldn’t respond or resolve the issue, while 35% said they wanted to avoid confrontation altogether. Another 31% worried that complaining could result in eviction.
This lack of communication can leave serious housing issues unreported and unresolved, potentially leading to unsafe living conditions. It also points to a wider issue of insecurity within the private rented sector, where many tenants feel unable to advocate for themselves.
SpareRoom noted that the housing crisis isn’t just impacting where people live—it’s also affecting their careers and the wider economy. More than six in ten renters (61%) said the rental market had negatively affected their career progression, suggesting that housing instability may be limiting economic mobility as well.
Nearly one in five (19%) renters admitted they had turned down a job opportunity in the past two years to avoid the stress and cost of moving to a new rental. For many, this meant missing out on significant career advancements and higher salaries.
Of those who declined job offers, over half (51%) said they had to give up better pay, while 40% missed out on roles that offered an improved work-life balance. Additionally, 35% said they had to decline a promotion or another professional development opportunity because relocating would have meant navigating an unaffordable or overly competitive rental market.
These findings show that the UK’s rental crisis is having far-reaching consequences beyond the housing sector. Renters are not only staying put in unsuitable or expensive homes—they are also putting their financial, professional, and personal growth on hold.
Experts warn that unless rental supply improves and affordability issues are addressed, these patterns could continue to worsen. With limited options and rising costs, renters will remain trapped in homes they’d rather leave, while landlords face increasing pressure to maintain and manage properties amid growing tenant dissatisfaction.
Ultimately, the research highlights how the current rental market is shaping life decisions across the country, forcing many to sacrifice both comfort and opportunity. Without meaningful reforms to improve affordability and stability, the ability for renters to move freely and progress in their careers will remain severely restricted.
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