The UK rental market produced a mixed picture in August, with average rents falling in London, the South East and Scotland month-on-month while rising across most other regions, according to Propertymark's latest rental price and salary tracker.
The South East saw the largest monthly decline, with average rents dropping 1.8% from £1,525 in July to £1,498 in August. London rents fell 0.7% over the same period, from £2,484 to £2,467, while Scotland posted a 1.2% monthly drop.
Despite the monthly easing in the capital, London continues to sit well above every other region on affordability. Renters there need a representative annual salary of £74,010 to secure an average-priced home, up 3.3% on August 2025.
The contrast with more affordable parts of the country is considerable. Northern Ireland remains the least expensive market at an average of £1,000 per month, requiring a salary of £30,000, while the West Midlands (£965 pcm, £28,950 salary) and Wales (£982 pcm, £29,460 salary) sit among the lowest thresholds. The East of England recorded the highest average rent outside London at £2,484 per month, translating to a required salary of £74,520.
Affordability improving in some regions
The annual picture offers some relief for renters in certain areas. Yorkshire and Humberside saw the sharpest improvement, with the representative salary needed falling 3.7% year-on-year to £29,160. The North West also moved in a positive direction, down 1.2% to £34,110.
Elsewhere, however, the salary required to rent continues to climb. Scotland posted a 2.1% annual increase to £35,220, the East of England rose 1% to £40,800, and the North East was up 1.5% to £26,340. The South East saw almost no movement year-on-year, edging just 0.1% higher to £44,940.
Monthly rental movements across the remaining regions were modest. Wales rose 0.7%, the East Midlands and East of England both gained 0.8%, and the North West ticked up 0.5%. The West Midlands added 0.6%, while the South West was broadly flat, rising just 0.1%.
Supply and regulation weigh on the market
"The latest figures show that rental markets continue to vary considerably across the country, with rents falling in some regions while increasing in others," said Kim Lidbury, president of ARLA Propertymark.
"These movements reflect the underlying balance between supply and demand, as well as the availability and type of properties coming to market.
"Where demand continues to outstrip supply, competition for available homes can place upward pressure on rents. At the same time, landlords are operating in an environment of rising costs and significant regulatory change, all of which can influence the viability and affordability of providing rental homes.
"While it is encouraging to see rents fall in some of the UK's most expensive markets this month, affordability remains a significant concern for many renters. The longer-term solution is not simply to focus on rental prices, but to ensure there is a sufficient supply of good-quality homes to meet demand.
"Creating the conditions for landlords to remain in and invest in the private rented sector, alongside increasing the overall supply of homes, will be crucial to delivering a more stable and affordable rental market for tenants."
Propertymark's data is drawn from approximately 15,000 letting agencies across the UK. The representative salary figure is calculated at 30 times the monthly rent, reflecting the standard referencing threshold applied by agencies.
