Rents are still rising faster than inflation, but a sharp increase in void periods suggests the rental market may be starting to lose momentum.
The latest Goodlord Rental Index shows average UK rents rose by 5% year-on-year in October, matching September’s annual increase.
Average monthly rents reached £1,592, up from £1,516 a year earlier. That leaves tenants paying an extra £76 a month, or £912 annually.
The increase remains above the wider UK inflation rate of 3.6%.
However, the latest figures also point to a slowdown in rental activity.
Monthly rent growth eased from 0.9% in September to 0.6% in October, while average void periods jumped from 20 to 28 days.
For letting agents and landlords, the figures suggest that rising asking rents are not necessarily translating into faster lets.
North East rents surge 14%
The North East recorded the biggest annual rent increase, with prices rising 14.2%.
Average monthly rents climbed from £881 to £1,007, adding £126 a month to tenants’ housing costs.
That equates to an extra £1,512 a year.
Yorkshire and the Humber also saw a sharp increase, with rents up 8.7% annually.
Across the nations, Wales recorded the strongest growth at 7%, followed by England at 5.7%.
Scotland saw a smaller rise of 2.7%.
The East of England was the only region to record an annual fall, with rents edging down 0.3%.
Rental growth slows across the market
Although rents increased in every region during October, the pace of growth eased in several areas.
Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the largest monthly rise at 2.1%, followed by the North West at 1.2%.
However, the North East saw monthly growth slow sharply from 5.6% in September to just 0.7% in October.
The South West followed a similar pattern, with growth dropping from 2.5% to 0.4%.
The figures suggest that rental prices are still increasing, but the rate of growth is becoming less pronounced as the market enters its traditionally quieter period.
Void periods jump 40%
Perhaps the clearest sign of a changing market is the increase in time between tenancies.
Goodlord recorded an average void period of 28 days in October, compared with 20 days in September.
That represents a 40% monthly increase.
Voids were also longer than in October 2025, when the average stood at 21 days.
Greater London recorded the shortest average void period at 25 days.
Wales had the longest at 34 days, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 32 days.
The North East experienced a particularly sharp change.
After recording average voids of just 11 days in September, the region saw that figure climb to 28 days in October.
Longer void periods mean landlords face more time without rental income, even as advertised and agreed rents continue to rise.
Goodlord blames Renters’ Rights Act for rising rents
William Reeve, chief executive of Goodlord, believes the Renters’ Rights Act is contributing to rental inflation.
“The headline figures this month haven’t changed: rental inflation continues apace and the market is putting the squeeze on tenant incomes,” he said.
“As predicted, we believe that this rental inflation is an unintended consequence of the Renters’ Rights Act; factors including the ban on over-bidding and annual rent reviews are combining to push up rents, compounded by continuing constraints on supply.”
However, the Rental Index does not establish a direct causal link between the legislation and higher rents.
The reforms took effect in England in May, while Goodlord’s UK-wide figures also include Scotland and Wales, where different rental rules apply.
Reeve acknowledged that the market may be heading into a quieter period.
“The underlying metrics point to the likelihood of a cooler few months ahead, as month-on-month price rises lose some of their heat and voids start to lengthen,” he said.
“The winter is often the slowest period of the year for the lettings market, although this seasonal predictability has been clouded by a range of impacting factors over the last year, namely the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act.”
Goodlord’s index draws on tens of thousands of tenancy transactions each month. The company has recently revised its methodology to account more closely for regional activity and property characteristics.
For letting agents, the latest figures present a mixed picture: rents remain well above last year’s levels, but longer voids could signal a tougher market for landlords seeking to secure tenants quickly.
