There has been a sharp rise in the number of US citizens renting properties in Britain since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, according to new analysis conducted by rental market experts Goodlord, which shows that since the President began his second term 18 months ago, there has been a 32% spike in the number of Americans signing tenancy agreements this side of the Atlantic.
The company analysed over 300,000 tenancy agreements signed before and after Trump returned to the White House. The research compared rental trends from January 2025 to June 2026 with those recorded between July 2023 and December 2024.
The study mirrors trends seen in previously released data, showing a spike in UK visa applications from US citizens in the months following Trump’s inauguration.
Every region across Great Britain has seen an increase in tenancies taken out by US renters over the last 18 months, with the smallest rise recorded in the North East of England, which saw an increase of 2%.
While some US citizens have pointed to the President’s controversial policy agenda as their motivation for leaving, others may have been tempted to swap US cities for the UK as a result of comparatively low rents. Major American tech and business hubs such as San Francisco and New York have seen rents soar to record highs in recent months, with the median cost of a rental in Manhattan reaching £3,766 a month earlier this year, which is also the median cost of a rental in Mayfair, London.
But for London overall, Goodlord’s analysis reveals the average monthly rent paid by US citizens in the capital stands at £2,410, since Trump took office, which is roughly one-third less than in Manhattan.
In Scotland – the region which has seen the greatest influx of US renters over recent months – American renters are paying an average of £1,711 per month. Meanwhile, the average age of US renters taking up new tenancies in Britain is 33, suggesting a particular desire to make the switch amongst young professionals.
William Reeve, CEO at Goodlord, comments: “These figures give further weight to claims that volatility in US politics is driving many Americans to seek a new home in the UK. But while the President’s controversial policy agenda will be the key push factor for some, comparatively low rents on this side of the Atlantic also appear to make the UK a more attractive place to rent. Though the UK’s lower salaries may initially come as a shock to young professionals crossing the pond, cheaper rents in British cities seem to soften the blow, convincing many to make the switch.”
