UK private rent inflation slows to 3.3% in May 2026

Average monthly private rents in the United Kingdom rose 3.3% year‑on‑year to £1,383 in the 12 months to May 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. The rate slowed from 3.5% in April. Regional variation was wide: the North East recorded the highest annual rent inflation at 5.9%, while London was the lowest at 2.0%. England’s average rent reached £1,442 (up 3.4%), Wales £836 (up 4.7%), Scotland £1,009 (up 1.0%) and Northern Ireland £876 (up 3.3%).

Industry commentators linked the slowdown to a weaker labour market, reduced migration and the lingering effects of the Renters’ Rights Act. Zoopla’s Richard Donnell said the “boom in rents is over” and that growth will be more sustainable. North London estate agent Jeremy Leaf noted that many landlords are selling amid cost‑of‑living concerns and that further rent rises are likely modest. Propertymark chief Nathan Emerson warned of an ongoing supply‑demand imbalance, while Alex Upton of Hampshire Trust Bank highlighted a “two‑speed” market and a shift toward portfolio quality over expansion.