Lomond says tenants are now spending 32.7 percent of their income on rent across the UK, while the average monthly rent reached £1,369 in its Summer 2026 market report.
The new quarterly release also shows average time to let stretching to 63 days, up 34 percent year on year, even as annual rental inflation held at 3.4 percent. That mix points to a market where rents are still rising, but tenants are taking longer to commit and value is under closer scrutiny.
Landlords should read that as a shift in market behaviour rather than a collapse in demand. When affordability is this stretched, the right pricing, condition and location matter more, and properties that miss the mark are likely to sit longer.
Rents are up, but tenants are choosier
Lomond says the lettings market has moved into a more selective phase after the intense competition of recent years. The report says landlords are placing greater emphasis on long-term performance and tenant quality, while renters are taking more time over decisions.
That makes the 63-day average time to let a figure worth watching. A longer void period can quickly wipe out the benefit of a slightly higher asking rent, particularly for landlords carrying larger mortgage costs or recent compliance spending.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s recent analysis of ONS rental inflation, which showed rents still climbing while supply remained tight. Lomond’s figures add another layer by suggesting tenants are pushing back harder on affordability even though the broader shortage has not gone away.
Regional divergence is becoming harder to ignore
The report says London still commands a heavy premium, with average rents at £2,418 per calendar month, 76 percent above the UK average. At the same time, Kent recorded a 121 percent increase in tenancies agreed over the last year, with average rents there up 5 percent.
Lomond also highlights 5 percent annual rent growth in both the North West and Yorkshire, where average monthly rents reached £1,215 and £1,283 respectively. Those areas may still look more manageable than London on headline rent alone, but the wider message is that affordability pressure is no longer just a capital-city issue.
For landlords, the opportunity is in getting the product right for local demand rather than assuming any available home will let quickly. The same report argues that periodic tenancies and the post-Renters’ Rights Act environment are pushing the market away from speed for speed’s sake.
Landlords can read Lomond’s Summer 2026 Quarterly Insights report here. It sits alongside Landlord Knowledge’s recent coverage of persistent demand pressure in the lettings market, and the combination suggests the market is still tight but less forgiving on price and presentation.
What this means for landlords
- If you’re remarketing a property: test asking rents against current local affordability, not just the last peak deal on your street.
- Watch for: longer voids where presentation, energy efficiency or travel links are weaker than rival stock.
- Bottom line: demand is still there, but tenants are choosing more carefully and punishing overpriced stock.
Editor’s view
Landlords do not need a crash in demand to feel pressure. If tenants are spending a third of income on rent and taking longer to commit, the market will punish lazy pricing before it punishes headline rents.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 28 August 2026
Sources: Lomond
Related reading: Propertymark: nine tenants chase each rental home in June
