Private rents in Great Britain stop rising for first time since 2017

Private rents in Great Britain halted their upward trajectory in the first quarter of 2026, with Rightmove reporting that the typical advertised rent for new listings outside London remained flat at £1,370 per calendar month. This marks the first Q1 without a rise since 2017 and signals a notable shift after years of sustained increases.

The change has been driven by a combination of stronger rental supply and an increase in price reductions by landlords. Rightmove found that roughly 26% of rental listings saw price cuts while advertised availability was higher than a year earlier, indicating easing competition among prospective tenants and more options on the market. These metrics point to landlords adjusting expectations to secure tenancies.

Market effects are mixed: outside London the stagnation provides short-term relief for renters as upward pressure wanes, while London continued to see modest growth — Q1 2026 average advertised rent in the capital rose by 0.7% to £2,736. Regional disparities suggest that national averages mask local hotspots where demand remains tight. Investors in buy-to-let and regional housing markets are likely to respond differently depending on local supply dynamics.

In a broader context, the rental market is reacting to macroeconomic and policy developments, including shifts in borrowing costs and regulatory reform. The incoming Renters' Rights Act, which came into force on 1 May 2026 and removes Section 21 evictions, has been cited as a factor shaping landlord behaviour. Combined with evolving mortgage conditions for buy-to-let investors, these elements contribute to the sector's re-pricing and supply responses.

Analysts caution that the pause in headline rent growth does not necessarily herald a sustained decline; Rightmove projects modest rent growth of around 2% over 2026 as supply-demand balance improves but structural shortages persist. Key indicators to watch in coming months include the proportion of listings with price reductions, regional availability data and buy-to-let mortgage rates, which together will determine whether the current stabilization is temporary or a turning point for the private rented sector.