Tenants in London are worse off as rents increase by up to 15% since last Christmas on top of the cost of living crisis

The latest insight into the UK rental market from Ocasa, reveals that tenants in London have endured bigger rent price increases than anywhere else in the UK since last Christmas.

Tenants are struggling this Christmas. Along with the rest of the nation, they’re dealing with a cost of living crisis, driven by rising energy prices, and adding to this pressure is the rising price of rent.

Across the UK, the average rent price has increased by 10.8% since last Christmas, rising from £1,060 per month at the end of 2021 to £1,175.

Perhaps not much of a surprise, tenants are being hit hardest in London where rent has increased by 14.8% which means rent has grown from £1,752 per month to £2,011. This pounds and pence increase of £259 is the biggest in the UK.

Scotland has also experienced higher than average price growth since last Christmas with the average rent rising by 14.0%, from £738 per month to £841.

Meanwhile, the smallest rent increases are being reported in Yorkshire and the Humber where prices have grown by 7.2% from £737 per month to £790.

Prices in the East Midlands have also seen low growth, increasing by just 7.3%, while in the North East rents have grown by £47 per month which is the smallest pound and pence rise in the UK.

Sales and Marketing Director at Ocasa, Jack Godby said, “Rent prices are increasing because landlords are passing on the additional costs they’re dealing with due to the cost of living crisis, not least the soaring price of energy. On top of that, rising mortgage rates means many landlords are being forced to up their prices to avoid making a loss on their investments.

And as if that wasn’t enough, many high street lenders have removed their buy-to-let mortgage products from the shelves which means landlords can’t get finance for new investments which, in turn, means rental stock is dwindling while tenant demand remains strong.

It’s going to be a difficult Christmas for many tenants, but there is definitely hope that 2023 will bring some relief to the situation, as the cost of living crisis dissipates. However, until the dangerous imbalance between rental market demand and stock supply is properly addressed and remedied, it’s the nation’s tenants who will continue to suffer from the ever increasing cost of renting.”