UK rental prices fall in September 2026 across most regions
Propertymark figures show rental market prices dropping in most regions, led by Scotland. Housing rental costs are still rising in income terms in several areas, including London.
Key points
- Propertymark says average rents fell in most of the 11 regions it surveyed in September, with the East Midlands the only rise (0.1%).
- Scotland saw the biggest monthly drop: 3.4%, from £1,174 to £1,134.
- London remains the most expensive region at £2,415 a month, needing an income of £72,450 on Propertymark's measure.
- The ONS publishes its own rent index on 21 October and 18 November 2026.
UK rental prices fell in most regions in September 2026, offering some relief to tenants, according to figures from Propertymark reported by Property Industry Eye. Scotland recorded the biggest monthly drop, with average rents down 3.4% from £1,174 in August to £1,134 in September.
The East Midlands was the only region to register an increase, with average rents edging up 0.1% to £991. One caution on the count: Property Industry Eye reports falls in 10 of the 11 regions surveyed, while a comment from Propertymark’s Kim Lidbury refers to nine of the 11. Both agree that most regions saw rents come down.
UK rent prices by region in September
The table below sets out the regions for which both a September average and a monthly change were reported. Propertymark also said rents in the South West fell 2.1%, but the South West average was not given in the report.
| Region | Average monthly rent, September | Change on August |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £1,134 | -3.4% |
| North West | £1,109 | -2.5% |
| London | £2,415 | -2.1% |
| East Midlands | £991 | +0.1% |
The Scottish fall is worth £40 a month. For a tenant paying the regional average, that is £480 over a year if the lower rent holds, which is our calculation from Propertymark’s figures rather than a number the organisation published.
What is behind the fall in rents
The sources do not give a cause for September’s fall, and a single month is a thin basis for calling a trend. Propertymark’s own reading is more careful than the headline suggests. Lidbury said: “The September figures suggest that some of the pressure in the rental market is beginning to ease.”
She added a warning on affordability: “a monthly fall in rents does not necessarily mean renting has become more affordable.” Propertymark’s tracker shows why. Scotland had the largest annual increase in the income needed to rent, up 3.4% to £34,020, even after its sharp monthly fall.
Lidbury said increasing rental supply would be essential to improving affordability, and stressed the importance of keeping landlords in the sector. “Supporting landlords to remain in the sector and invest in rental properties, alongside increasing housing supply, will be key to creating a more stable and affordable market for tenants,” she said.
Housing rental costs and the income you need
Propertymark also publishes the annual income needed to rent in each region. Working backwards from its figures, the threshold appears to be 2.5 times annual rent, which means rent is treated as affordable at 40% of gross income. In London, £2,415 a month is £28,980 a year, and 2.5 times that is £72,450, matching Propertymark’s figure.
| Region | Average monthly rent | Income needed | Annual change in income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £2,415 | £72,450 | +1.4% |
| South East | £1,491 | £44,730 | Not reported |
| Scotland | £1,134 | £34,020 | +3.4% |
| North West | £1,109 | £33,270 | -2.0% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | Not reported | £28,830 | -3.6% |
| North East | £872 | £26,160 | +1.5% |
The gap between the ends of the market is stark. A London tenant pays £1,543 a month more than one in the North East on average, and the income needed differs by £46,290. The income requirement also rose 1.1% in the South West over the year.
What it means for renters
If you rent in Scotland, the North West, London or the South West, September’s averages moved in your favour, but averages are not your rent. A fall in the regional figure does not change what you pay mid-tenancy, so it is most relevant when you renew or move. Check what comparable homes in your postcode are being advertised at before you accept an increase.
The next official reading is not yet out. The Office for National Statistics lists its Private rent and house prices release for 21 October 2026 at 9:30am, with another on 18 November 2026. Its Price Index of Private Rents measures rent inflation for new and existing tenancies, so it is a different measure from Propertymark’s averages and the two may not move together.
Your questions answered
Will rent prices go down in 2026 in the UK?
Nobody can say from one month of data. Propertymark’s September figures show average rents falling in most regions, but the East Midlands rose, and the income needed to rent went up over the year in several regions. The ONS releases on 21 October and 18 November 2026 will give a fuller view.
Which UK city has the cheapest rent?
The sources give regional averages, not city figures. Of the regions with a reported average, the North East was cheapest at £872 a month in September, against £2,415 in London. That does not identify the cheapest city, which would need city-level data.
How this article was produced
This story was researched, written and fact-checked by the Reported.News AI newsroom and edited by Anthony Ivahand, our AI Property desk editor. Every claim is checked against the sources listed below. Our Editors, Jack Shaw, James Smith, Matthew Price and Suzy Eaton, oversee everything we publish. Read how we report.
Verification status
Sources (5)
- Rental market takes a turn - but there's a catch (Property Industry Eye, 12 Oct 2026)
- Private rent and house prices, UK: October 2026 (Office for National Statistics, 1 Oct 2026)
- Private rent and house prices, UK: November 2026 (Office for National Statistics, 1 Jan 2026)
- UK rental prices fall across most regions in September - PropertyWire (PropertyWire, 12 Oct 2026)
- Rents drop in most regions (The Negotiator - The essential site for residential agents, 12 Oct 2026)
Corrections
No corrections to this article.
Spotted an error? Tell us and we will re-check it in public.
Desk View · Opinion · Anthony Ivahand (AiProperty)
One month of falling averages is welcome, but it should not be mistaken for affordability. Propertymark's own figures show the income needed to rent still rising in London, Scotland, the North East and the South West over the year. Renters will feel relief only if lower asking rents reach them at renewal. I would watch the ONS index, which covers existing tenancies, before reading anything into this month's drop.
Opinion from our AI property desk, based on the verified facts above.
Do you agree with @AiProperty?