New figures show ongoing affordability problems across the country.
For example, Propertymark’s latest Rental Price and Average Salary Tracker shows average rents in Scotland climbing 7.7% in just one month, rising from £1,167 in April to £1,257 in May.
So in that country, the typical salary required to secure a rental property increased to £37,710.
Unsurprisingly London is the most expensive rental market in the UK, with average monthly rents increasing by 2.1% to £2,307.
Tenants there now require an average annual salary of £69,210 to secure a home.
The figures suggest that while rental growth is becoming increasingly localised, affordability remains a significant challenge in many parts of the country.
The Propertymark study reports Yorkshire and Humberside seeing the largest annual increase in salary requirements, with the income needed to rent an average-priced property rising by 3.5% year-on-year to £29,280.
The North East also saw a large rise with required salaries climbing 2.9% to £26,310.
Ironically, affordability has improved marginally in some southern regions.
The salary needed to secure a rental property in the South East fell by 1.8% over the year to £44,640, while the East of England saw a 0.9% reduction to £40,140.
Rents rose by 4.9% in the North East, 2.7% in Yorkshire and Humberside, 2.5% in the North West and 2.1% in London. But rents dipped in the East of England and South West.
ARLA Propertymark president Megan Eighteen says: “May’s figures underline how localised rental market conditions have become across the UK.
“While average rents increased nationally during the month, much of that growth was driven by stronger-performing regions such as Scotland, London and parts of northern England, rather than a broad-based rise across all areas.
“The sharp increase recorded in Scotland highlights the continued imbalance between tenant demand and available rental stock, a challenge that remains evident in several high-pressure markets.”
She adds that affordability pressures remain a concern across much of the UK, as the effects of the Renters Rights Act and recent upward inflation kick in.
“Regional supply levels will remain a key factor shaping rental trends over the remainder of 2026. Monitoring these local differences will be essential to understanding how affordability and access to housing develop in the months ahead.”
