UK Rents Hit Historic £1,500 Milestone Outside London

The average rent for a newly let property in the South East of England has reached £1,500 per month for the first time ever outside London . This marks a significant milestone for the UK rental market and reflects continued upward pressure on rents in regions surrounding the capital.

Key Data Points:

• National average rent: £1,382 per month in May 

• South East rent: £1,500 per month (up 2.0% annually) 

• London rent: £2,294 per month (up 0.6%) 

Regional rental snapshot (May 2026) :

What This Means for Investors: The fastest rental growth is now in northern regions, with the North East leading at 3.8%. Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, noted landlords are becoming more selective, willing to wait for the right tenant rather than accepting the first offer — which has helped keep rental growth stable