The average rent across the UK continued to rise in May, reaching £1,340 according to the latest figures from HomeLet. This increase reflects a steady pattern of growth in the rental market, with monthly rises recorded in 10 out of the 12 regions covered by the data.
Overall, the national average has moved up by 1.1% compared with April, when rents stood at £1,325. When compared with the same period last year, the figure is 2.5% higher than the £1,307 recorded in May 2025. While the pace of growth remains relatively moderate, the continued upward movement highlights ongoing pressure within the rental sector across the UK.
One of the most notable areas of increase remains Greater London, where rental prices continue to sit significantly above the national average. In May, the average rent in the capital rose to £2,161, following a monthly increase of 1.6%. This means tenants in London are now paying around £33 more per month compared with April, when the average stood at £2,128.
On a yearly basis, London rents have also seen clear growth. The current average is 3.5% higher than the £2,088 recorded in the same month last year. This reflects the continued strength of demand in the capital, where supply constraints and high competition for available properties continue to push prices upwards.
Outside of Greater London, the rental market also showed consistent increases. The average rent across the rest of the UK reached £1,146 in May. This represents a 1% rise from April’s £1,135 and a 2% increase compared with May 2025, when the average stood at £1,124. Although more modest than London’s figures, this still indicates a broad-based upward trend across regional markets.
The latest data also shows clear differences in performance across UK regions. Scotland recorded the strongest monthly growth, with rents rising by 1.9% in May. This made it the fastest-growing region over the month, highlighting stronger-than-average demand in the Scottish rental market.
Greater London and the East of England followed closely behind, each posting a monthly increase of 1.6%. These areas continue to experience upward pressure on rents, driven by demand in both urban and commuter locations.
In contrast, not all regions experienced growth during the month. Northern Ireland saw a slight decline of 0.5%, while the North East remained unchanged. These figures suggest that while the overall trend is upward, some areas are seeing more stability or even minor corrections in pricing.
Looking at annual performance, Scotland once again stood out as the strongest performer, with rents rising by 3.9% compared with May last year. This indicates sustained growth in tenant demand and ongoing pressure in the Scottish rental market.
Greater London and the North East both recorded annual growth of 3.5%, showing that even regions with very different price levels are experiencing similar percentage increases over time.
The overall picture from the May data suggests a rental market that continues to edge upwards rather than spike sharply. While the rate of increase is not dramatic, it remains consistent across much of the country. This steady growth pattern means affordability continues to be a key concern for tenants, particularly in high-cost areas such as London.
At the same time, landlords and letting agents are navigating a market where demand remains relatively strong, but price increases must be balanced carefully to maintain long-term tenancies. With 10 out of 12 regions still recording monthly rises, the data suggests that upward pressure on rents is still broadly present across the UK housing market.
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