Newport has seen the sharpest rent increases in the UK over the past five years, with one-bedroom rental costs rising 47.4 percent according to new research. Liverpool and Manchester follow closely behind, with increases of 42.1 percent and 41 percent respectively, as regional markets continue to outpace traditional rental hotspots.
Regional cities dominate rent growth table
Analysis by credit card provider Zable examined one-bedroom rental prices across UK cities between 2020 and 2025. The average UK rent has risen 33.4 percent over the period, but several regional markets have significantly exceeded that figure.
Newport tops the table with a 2,611 pound annual increase, taking average one-bedroom rents to 8,121 pounds per year. Liverpool saw rents rise by 2,290 pounds to 7,727 pounds annually, while Manchester recorded the largest cash increase at 3,364 pounds, pushing average rents to 11,569 pounds.
Edinburgh, Leicester, Wolverhampton and Nottingham also feature in the top ten, all recording growth above 39 percent. Glasgow and Cardiff complete the list with increases of 38 percent and 37 percent respectively.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s analysis of Welsh rental growth, which highlighted how rent increases in Wales have consistently outstripped the UK average – a trend the Newport data confirms.
Brighton least affordable for single renters
The research also examined affordability for single-person households, combining rent, council tax and general living costs as a proportion of income. Brighton and Hove emerged as the least affordable city, with living expenses consuming 87 percent of the average salary.
In Brighton, one-bedroom rents average 1,191 pounds per month – the fourth highest outside London. Combined with council tax of around 1,330 pounds annually and average household spending of 11,949 pounds, single renters face total costs of 27,574 pounds against average take-home pay of 31,698 pounds.
Southend-on-Sea, Oxford and Exeter follow in the affordability rankings, with living costs taking between 79 and 84 percent of income. London ranks seventh despite having the highest absolute costs, as higher wages partially offset the expense.
Derby emerges as the most affordable city for single renters, with costs taking just 53.2 percent of income, followed by Aberdeen and Stoke-on-Trent. This echoes findings from Landlord Knowledge’s recent affordability analysis showing northern towns offering significantly better value for money.
What this means for landlords
- If you’re investing in Welsh or northern cities: Strong rent growth over five years suggests sustained demand, but affordability pressures may limit future increases in some markets.
- Watch for: Cities like Brighton where tenants pay 87 percent of income on living costs face natural limits on further rent growth – focus on markets where affordability remains healthier.
- Bottom line: Regional markets have delivered stronger rental returns than many anticipated – but the singles tax data suggests some tenants are reaching breaking point.
The full research is available at Zable.
Editor’s view
Newport topping the rent growth table is a surprise to many, but reflects the broader story of regional markets outperforming expectations. For landlords, the affordability data is the real takeaway – when tenants spend 87 percent of income on living costs, something has to give. Markets with better affordability ratios may offer more sustainable long-term returns.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 25 March 2026
Sources: Zable
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