Regional rents showed a mixed pattern in February, with some areas recording sharp increases while others saw prices fall, according to fresh data from Propertymark.
East Midlands leads growth, Northern Ireland falls
The figures reveal significant regional variation. The East Midlands recorded the largest monthly rise at 3.4%, followed by the North West at 2.8%, Scotland at 2.7%, and the South East at 2.0%.
By contrast, Northern Ireland saw rents drop by 6.6% month on month – the sharpest decline in the UK. The West Midlands fell 1.3%, while the East of England and Yorkshire and Humberside recorded marginal drops of 0.3% and 0.1% respectively.
London rents rose by 1%, but the annual salary needed to secure an average rental in the capital fell by 2.2% year on year – suggesting the market may be finding a natural ceiling.
This follows Residential Landlord’s recent report on south coast rent growth outpacing London, pointing to a broader shift in regional dynamics.
Salary requirements vary widely
The data shows tenants in London need an average annual salary of £66,780 before tax to secure a rental home, based on the standard 36% affordability threshold. The South East requires £45,630, while Scotland sits at £32,100 and the North East remains the most affordable at £27,240.
Year-on-year changes in salary requirements show Scotland jumping 5.9% and the North West rising 5%, while the South East and East of England saw minimal movement at just 0.2%.
Megan Eighteen, president of ARLA Propertymark, said: “February’s data reflects a more varied rental landscape than we saw earlier in the winter, with a number of regions recording modest month-on-month rent increases, including the East Midlands, North West and Scotland.”
She added that affordability pressures remain “structurally embedded” despite monthly volatility, and that sustainable improvements will depend on increasing rental supply rather than seasonal shifts alone.
Regional breakdown
Average monthly rents for February 2026:
- London: £2,226
- South East: £1,521
- South West: £1,372
- East of England: £1,324
- North West: £1,102
- Scotland: £1,070
- Wales: £1,043
- West Midlands: £1,040
- East Midlands: £1,027
- Yorkshire and Humberside: £954
- North East: £908
- Northern Ireland: £853
Full details are available in Propertymark’s Housing Insight Report.
Opinion
The regional divergence tells a clearer story than national averages. Landlords in the Midlands and North West are still seeing solid rental growth, while London and Northern Ireland face cooling demand. For investors weighing where to deploy capital, these monthly snapshots matter – but the underlying supply shortage remains the dominant force.
