Average rents moved in different directions across the UK in April, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and London all posting firm monthly rises while Wales and parts of northern England went backwards, according to the latest Propertymark tracker.
For landlords, the report points to a market that is no longer moving in one clear national direction. Scotland recorded the sharpest monthly rise among the larger markets, with average agreed rents climbing 3.9 percent from £1,123 to £1,167, while London rose 3 percent to £2,259. At the other end of the table, Wales fell 3.4 percent month on month, the North East dropped 3 percent, and the North West slipped 2.6 percent.
Rental affordability is shifting by region
The figures also show that rent levels and affordability are starting to pull apart in some areas. Northern Ireland is a good example. Average rents increased from £887 to £920 in a month, yet the representative annual salary needed to secure the average-priced home fell 2.4 percent year on year to £27,600. That suggests some regional markets are still seeing room for rents to rise without worsening headline affordability on the same scale.
London remains the clear outlier on income pressure. Propertymark said a typical renter would need an annual salary of £67,770 to secure the average-priced home in the capital, up slightly from £67,410 a year earlier. In Scotland, the equivalent salary requirement rose to £35,010, while the South East still required £44,460 despite a small monthly dip in rents.
Megan Eighteen, president of ARLA Propertymark, said the latest figures showed “a highly regionalised rental market, with some areas experiencing noticeable monthly growth while others are seeing mild corrections”. She said the split reflected “ongoing imbalances between supply and demand across different parts of the UK, rather than a uniform national trend”.
What the April rent data means for landlords
For investors, the most useful point in the data is not the national average but the growing gap between local markets. Landlords in Scotland and London are still seeing clear pricing strength, but those in Wales, the North East and the North West may need to think harder about tenant budgets, stock quality and how quickly they push through increases.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s report on March rent trends, which found the market had already started to flatten overall even as regional differences widened. The latest figures suggest that split is becoming clearer rather than fading, with stronger gains concentrated in fewer areas.
There is also a warning here for policymakers. If landlords continue to face very different local conditions, broad national assumptions about affordability or supply may miss what is really happening on the ground. Markets where rents are still rising quickly can keep attracting investment, while weaker regions may struggle to absorb higher costs or further regulation.
The report lands just after the start of the Renters’ Rights Act in England, which means landlords will be watching closely to see whether changing tenancy rules alter pricing power, void risk or tenant demand during the summer. That effect will not show up in one month’s figures, but the April tracker gives a useful baseline before the first full post-reform comparisons arrive.
Landlords wanting to compare their area with wider market moves can review recent Scottish rental trends alongside Propertymark’s housing insight reports to gauge whether local demand is still strong enough to support higher rents.
What this means for landlords
- If you’re in a high-growth region: Scotland and London still show signs that rents can move higher, but affordability limits are tightening in the capital.
- Watch for: weaker monthly pricing in Wales, the North East and the North West, where over-ambitious increases could lengthen voids.
- Bottom line: broad UK averages matter less than local conditions, so rent reviews should be based on live regional evidence rather than national headlines.
Editor’s view
Regional rent gaps matter more to landlords than any single UK-wide average. This set of figures backs a simple point: landlords who treat each market on its own merits will make better pricing decisions than those relying on a national story.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 11 May 2026
Sources: Propertymark rental price and average salary tracker, Propertymark housing insight reports
Related reading: UK rents plateau as regional divides widen in March
