Rental prices in the UK showed a mixed pattern in February. the latest data from Propertymark shows.
The average rental price is £1,438 per month, with an annual income requirement of £43,130, reflecting a 0.4% increase month-on-month and a 2% decrease compared with the same month last year.
Increases were recorded in the East Midlands (+3.4%), North West (+2.8%), Scotland (+2.7%) and South East (+2.0%), while Northern Ireland (-6.6%), West Midlands (-1.3%), East of England (-0.3%) and Yorkshire and Humberside (-0.1%) saw declines. London recorded a 1% monthly increase, with the annual salary required to rent easing by 2.2% year on year.
Year-on-year salary requirements have generally moved up slightly across most regions, indicating that short-term fluctuations in rent have not yet improved affordability significantly. The market remains varied, with some tenants seeing stabilisation or small increases in rents, while others experience minor corrections.
This report examines average rental prices alongside the typical income needed to rent in each region, providing an overview of affordability and trends in the UK private rented sector.
February 2026:
| Location | Average rental price | Representative average annual salary needed to secure the average-priced home (before tax and any deductions) |
| Scotland | £1,070 | £32,100 |
| Northern Ireland | £853 | £25,590 |
| Wales | £1,043 | £31,290 |
| East Midlands | £1,027 | £30,810 |
| East of England | £1,324 | £39,720 |
| London (inner and outer London) | £2,226 | £66,780 |
| North East | £908 | £27,240 |
| North West | £1,102 | £33,060 |
| South East | £1,521 | £45,630 |
| South West | £1,372 | £41,160 |
| West Midlands | £1,040 | £31,200 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £954 | £28,620 |
February 2025 (for comparison):
| Location | Average rental price | Representative average annual salary needed to secure the average-priced home (before tax and any deductions) |
| Scotland | £1,062 | £31,860 |
| Northern Ireland | £1,011 | £30,330 |
| Wales | £990 | £29,700 |
| East Midlands | £1,020 | £30,600 |
| East of England | £1,358 | £40,740 |
| London (inner and outer London) | £2,269 | £68,070 |
| North East | £887 | £26,610 |
| North West | £1,082 | £32,460 |
| South East | £1,521 | £45,630 |
| South West | £1,362 | £40,860 |
| West Midlands | £1,032 | £30,960 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £926 | £27,780 |
Change seen in the average salary required year on year:
| Location | February 2025 – typical annual salary needed to secure a home (before tax and deductions) | February 2026 – typical annual salary needed to secure a home (before tax and deductions) | % change in salary needed |
| Scotland | £30,300 | £32,100 | +5.9% |
| Northern Ireland | £25,470 | £25,590 | +0.5% |
| Wales | £30,180 | £31,290 | +3.7% |
| East Midlands | £30,300 | £30,810 | +1.7% |
| East of England | £39,630 | £39,720 | +0.2% |
| London (inner and outer London) | £68,280 | £66,780 | -2.2% |
| North East | £26,730 | £27,240 | +1.9% |
| North West | £31,500 | £33,060 | +5% |
| South East | £45,120 | £45,630 | +0.2% |
| South West | £40,860 | £41,160 | +0.7% |
| West Midlands | £30,450 | £31,200 | +2.5% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £28,110 | £28,620 | +1.8% |
Average monthly rental price month-on-month comparison (December 2025 – January 2026):
| Location | Average monthly rental price – January 2026 | Average monthly rental price – February 2026 | Percentage change (difference from Jan to Feb) |
| Scotland | £1,042 | £1,070 | +2.7% |
| Northern Ireland | £913 | £853 | -6.6% |
| Wales | £1,037 | £1,043 | +0.6% |
| East Midlands | £993 | £1,027 | +3.4% |
| East of England | £1,328 | £1,324 | -0.3% |
| London (inner and outer London) | £2,204 | £2,226 | +1% |
| North East | £894 | £908 | +1.6% |
| North West | £1,072 | £1,102 | +2.8% |
| South East | £1,491 | £1,521 | +2% |
| South West | £1,363 | £1,372 | +0.7% |
| West Midlands | £1,054 | £1,040 | -1.3% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £955 | £954 | -0.1% |
Megan Eighteen, president of ARLA Propertymark, said: “February’s data reflects a more varied rental landscape than we saw earlier in the winter, with a number of regions recording modest month-on-month rent increases, including the East Midlands, North West and Scotland. At the same time, areas such as Northern Ireland and the West Midlands have seen rents fall back, demonstrating that seasonal influences are still at play in parts of the market.
“While some regions are experiencing short-term adjustments, the annual salary required to secure a rental property has generally edged upwards year on year. This underlines that affordability pressures remain structurally embedded despite monthly volatility.
“Overall, the data suggests a market that is recalibrating rather than correcting sharply. Sustainable improvements in affordability will ultimately depend on increasing rental supply and achieving a better balance between demand and available homes, rather than relying on seasonal shifts alone.”