Peter Hermon-Taylor, managing director of lettings at Maskells, explores how the Prime Central London rental market is shifting in 2026, with tenant sophistication and pricing...

Rental supply is shrinking faster than new homes can be delivered into the private rented sector, exacerbating the imbalance between supply and demand across high-demand regions.

Under-25s now make up 26% of the flatshare market, down from 32% in 2015.

Demand for flats in London grew 4%, by 20,000 enquiries, but international flat hunter searches dropped 7%, 59,000 fewer searches.

Spectra will deliver 393 contemporary rental homes across studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as townhouses, in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Limited rental supply, rising operating costs, and higher mortgage rates continue to push rents upward across the UK.

The platform launches with £31m of committed capital to deliver new rental housing.

Average UK monthly private rents reached £1,368 in December 2025, marking a 4.0% increase over the previous year, according to new data released by ONS. 

New rental listings in the capital climbed by around 2,000 in December, reaching approximately 25,000 homes.

Research by mortgage market specialist Pegasus Insight shows that tenant demand in the private rented sector has dipped slightly over the past year, but remains high compared with...