Average rents across the UK rose again in July, with Greater London continuing to record the strongest annual growth, according to the latest HomeLet Rental Index.
The average monthly rent reached £1,369 in July, up 1.2% from £1,353 in June and 4.3% higher than the £1,313 recorded a year earlier.
Excluding Greater London, average rents across the rest of the UK increased to £1,170, representing a 1.1% monthly rise and annual growth of 3.4%.
In London, average rents climbed to £2,207 per month, up 1.2% from June. The capital also recorded the strongest annual increase of any UK region, with rents rising 6.0% over the past 12 months.
Regional data showed rental growth remained widespread, with 11 of the 12 regions recording month-on-month increases in July.
Scotland saw the largest monthly rise at 2.6%, followed by the South East (1.4%) and both the North East and North West (1.3%).
After London, the strongest annual growth was recorded in the East Midlands (4.7%), followed by Scotland (4.1%) and the North East (4.0%).
Northern Ireland was the only region to record a monthly decline, with average rents slipping 0.5% compared with June.
Summary: June vs July 2026 HomeLet Rental Index
UK rents continued to rise, increasing from £1,353 in June to £1,369 in July. Annual rental growth also accelerated, from 3.4% to 4.3%.
Outside Greater London, average rents rose from £1,157 to £1,170, with annual growth strengthening from 2.7% to 3.4%.
Greater London remained the strongest-performing region, with average rents climbing from £2,181 to £2,207. Annual growth accelerated from 5.0% in June to 6.0% in July.
Scotland recorded the largest monthly rental increase in both months, although growth eased from 3.6% in June to 2.6% in July.
The North East remained among the strongest-performing regions, featuring in both the largest monthly increases and strongest annual growth rankings.
The East Midlands replaced the West Midlands as the second strongest region for annual rental growth in July, with rents up 4.7% year-on-year.
Overall, the July figures indicate rental inflation gathered pace, with stronger annual growth nationally and across most regions, led by continued robust demand in London.
Mike Dawson, head of sales at HomeLet and Let Alliance, commented: “This month’s Rental Index reinforces the picture of a market where demand for good‑quality rental homes remains consistently strong. Rents are still nudging upwards in the majority of regions, with London and several parts of the Midlands and Scotland showing particularly notable annual growth.”
