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The latest figures on the average rent paid by new tenants in February 2026 reveal a market that is no longer moving in one direction across the UK. Instead, regional differences are becoming clearer, with some areas still seeing modest growth while others, particularly in the South, are starting to soften.
Starting in Scotland, the average rent for new tenancies now stands at £1,135 per month, up 0.4% on February 2025. Northern Ireland shows a similar pattern, with rents averaging £1,072, also 0.4% higher year on year.
Across northern England, the picture is mixed. The North East has an average rent of £901, a modest 0.2% increase, while Yorkshire & Humber has risen slightly faster to £985, up 0.7%. The standout performer is the North West, where rents now average £1,311, a notable 10.3% increase, although some of that rise appears linked to strong activity in cities such as Manchester & Liverpool and may prove to be a short-term February spike.
Moving into the Midlands, the trend becomes more subdued. The West Midlands averages £1,070, down 1% year on year, while the East Midlands sits at £1,044, a sharper 2.2% drop.
In Wales, rents average £1,091, down 0.5%, while the South West remains one of the few southern regions still showing growth, with rents at £1,378, up 1%.
Further east, the market has softened slightly. East Anglia now averages £1,376, down 1.1%, while the South East has fallen further to £1,577, a 2.3% decline compared with last year.
Finally, London remains the most expensive rental market by some distance, with new tenants paying an average of £2,703 per month, although even here rents are 1.1% lower than a year ago.
Overall, the pattern is becoming clearer. The further south you go, the more likely rents are to be less buoyant, while parts of the North continue to show resilience.
If you would like to discuss this further or dig deeper into the sales market, I would love to hear from you.
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