Average private rents increased but dropped marginally to an 8.7 percent rise in the 12 months to the end of January - down from 9.0 percent in December, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.
The ONS report shows rent growth slowly retreating from the record-high annual rise of 9.2 percent in March last year.
Average rents increased to £1,375 (8.8 percent) in England and £780 (8.4 percent) in Wales from 12 months to January 2025.
In England, rents were highest in London (11.0 percent) and lowest in Yorkshire and The Humber (5.3 percent).
The average private rent in Great Britain was £1,332 a month, £106 (8.7 percent) higher than 12 months earlier.
Average rent in England was up £112 a month than 12 months earlier, down from 9.2 percent in December and lower than the record high of 9.3 percent growth in November.
The average rent in Wales was £780 a month in January, up 8.4 percent or £61 a month from January last year. However, this was well below the record-high annual rise of 9.8 percent in November 2023.
Private rents where you are
London had the highest rent inflation from 12 months to January 2025, at 11.0 percent. This rise was lower than in the 12 months to December 2024 (11.5 percent) and below the yearly record growth in the 12 months to November 2024 (11.6 percent).
Average rent was highest in London (£2,227) and lowest in the North East (£710) in January 2025.
Area
Annual percentage change
London
11.00 percent
North West
9.70 percent
North East
8.70 percent
East of England
8.40 percent
East Midlands
8.30 percent
West Midlands
7.70 percent
South East
7.40 percent
South West
6.70 percent
Yorkshire and Humber
5.30 percent
England
8.80 percent
Wales
8.40 percent
UK
8.70 percent
Source: ONS
Average local rents can vary within towns and cities.
Rent was highest in Kensington and Chelsea, London (£3,615 a month) and lowest in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (£513 monthly), in January 2025. Outside London, the area with the highest average rent was Elmbridge, Surrey (£1,876 a month), which covers towns including Esher, Weybridge and Cobham.
Private rents by property size
Average private rent was higher for detached homes (£1,530) and lowest for apartments and maisonettes (£1,302) for January 2025. Average private rent was highest for properties with four or more bedrooms (£2,020 monthly) and lowest for properties with one bedroom (£1,072 a month).
