Nearly 6 in 10 UK Landlords Increased Rents in Past Year as Inflation Bites Property Market

Exclusive Lendlord data exposes widespread rent increases across all UK regions as only 4.4% of landlords reduce rents despite affordability crisis

Published: July 24, 2025

Data: Q2 2025 UK-wide

Source: Lendlord.io Survey

58.5%

of UK landlords increased rents in the past 12 months

Combining selective (31.1%) and across-the-board (27.4%) rent increases, revealing widespread inflationary pressure across the UK rental market

The Rent Increase Reality

Landlord Rent Increase Activity - Past 12 Months

No rent increases

37.1%

Increased rents for some properties

31.1%

Increased rents across all properties

27.4%

Reduced rents

4.4%

31.1%

Selective rent increases across some properties

27.4%

Universal rent increases across all properties

4.4%

Actually reduced rents (market minority)

37.1%

Maintained current rent levels

Key Insight: The 58.5% Inflation Impact

The combination of selective and universal rent increases reveals a market under significant inflationary pressure. With only 4.4% of landlords reducing rents, the data shows overwhelming upward momentum in rental costs, directly correlating with broader economic inflation and regional growth patterns across the UK.

Regional Growth Drivers

North East

+9.7%

£732.55

Wales

+8.2%

£941.39

Greater London

+7.3%

£1,959.78

Northern Ireland

+4.8%

£743.61

West Midlands

+3.4%

£995.80

East of England

+3.2%

£1,289.73

North West

+2.9%

£1,000.53

South East

+2.8%

£1,383.36

East Midlands

+2.7%

£991.23

Scotland

+2.4%

£844.24

South West

+1.9%

£1,500.99

Yorkshire & Humberside

+1.1%

£858.91

Future Pressure Indicators

Landlord Plans for Next 6 Months

Planning to raise rents

36.3%

Not planning to raise rents

33.3%

Maybe, depending on market conditions

30.4%

The 66.7% Future Pressure

Combining definite plans (36.3%) with market-dependent decisions (30.4%), two-thirds of landlords are actively considering rent increases, signaling continued upward pressure on rental costs across the UK.

Key Correlation: High-growth regions (North East, Wales) likely driving much of the "definite increase" category, while premium markets (London, South East) may represent the "market-dependent" group.

Market Tightness Indicators

With 72.8% of landlords reporting zero vacancy rates and 73.8% experiencing stable tenant turnover, the market fundamentals strongly support continued rent increases across all regions.

Supply Crisis: Exceptional occupancy rates give landlords significant pricing power, particularly in high-growth regions where demand continues to outstrip supply.

The Affordability Crisis Correlation

Regional Growth Range

8.6pp

Percentage point spread between highest (North East: 9.7%) and lowest (Yorkshire: 1.1%) growth regions, showing massive regional inequality in rent inflation

Rent Premium Gap

168%

Greater London's £1,959.78 average rent maintains a 168% premium over North East's £732.55, while North East leads in growth rate

Market Pressure Index

88.1%

Combined percentage of landlords with vacancy rates below 10%, demonstrating extreme market tightness driving rent increases

Advanced Analysis: The Regional Rebalancing Effect

High-growth regions (North East, Wales) are experiencing rapid rent catch-up despite being traditionally affordable areas. This suggests a significant regional rebalancing in the UK rental market, where historically low-rent areas are closing the gap with premium markets. The 58.5% national increase rate is being driven disproportionately by these emerging growth regions, creating new affordability challenges for tenants in previously accessible markets.

Data Methodology & Sources

Primary Survey Data: Comprehensive survey of Lendlord.io users conducted in July 2025, capturing landlord behavior across all UK regions regarding rent increases, future plans, vacancy rates, and market conditions.

Regional Analysis: Annual growth rates sourced from ONS official data (North East, London, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales) and market analysis for remaining regions. Rent averages compiled from Lendlord platform data and validated against national benchmarks.

Correlation Analysis: Statistical correlation between survey responses and regional inflation patterns, identifying high-growth regions as primary drivers of national rent increase trends and future market pressure.

Supporting Data: Cross-referenced with ONS Private Rent Statistics (UK average £1,344 monthly, June 2025), HomeLet Rental Index (£1,308 average), and Zoopla forecasts (3-4% annual inflation projection for 2025).