UK average rents were up by 1.7% in the 12 months to the end of September, according to new data.
Tenants are paying an average £943 a month.
But they pay far more in London, where year-on-year rents increased by 3% to an average £1,640 a month.
If the London figures are stripped from the rest of the data, taking the average UK rent down to £780 a month, representing a 1.8% yearly increase.
Tenant referencing firm Homelet, which compiled the data, says rents in every UK region were up, except for in the North East, where they dropped 1.9% over the year, from £526 a month to £519.
However, the monthly change between August and September saw the trend reversed for most regions. Only the East of England (0.2%); Wales (0.6%) and Greater London (0.5%) posted increases.
The largest falls were in the East Midlands (-1.6%); the North East and North West (both -1.3%).0
“The September increase continues the trend we’ve seen over 2018,” said Homelet CEO Martin Totty.
“The long term looks like shallow growth below the rate of inflation we have seen in the wider economy and below the average rate of house price growth as well.
“You could argue that rent growth is suiting the needs of landlords and tenants and finding some equilibrium between supply and demand.”
UK rents by region – September 2017 -18
| Region | Sep-18 | Aug-18 | Sep-17 | Monthly | Annual |
| Variation | Variation | ||||
| Northern Ireland | £664 | £663 | £636 | 0.20% | 4.40% |
| Scotland | £663 | £664 | £628 | -0.20% | 5.60% |
| Greater London | £1,640 | £1,632 | £1,593 | 0.50% | 3.00% |
| West Midlands | £701 | £708 | £692 | -1.00% | 1.30% |
| North West | £708 | £717 | £697 | -1.30% | 1.60% |
| East Midlands | £629 | £639 | £620 | -1.60% | 1.50% |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | £644 | £645 | £630 | -0.20% | 2.20% |
| South East | £1,0.43 | £1,055 | £1,001 | -1.10% | 4.20% |
| North East | £519 | £526 | £529 | -1.30% | -1.90% |
| Wales | £621 | £617 | £617 | 0.60% | 0.60% |
| South West | £818 | £826 | £814 | -1.00% | 0.50% |
| East Of England | £915 | £913 | £914 | 0.20% | 0.10% |
| UK Average | £943 | £947 | £927 | -0.40% | 1.70% |
| UK excluding Greater London | £780 | £786 | £766 | -0.80% | 1.80% |
Source: Homelet
