UK rents rose for the second consecutive month in April, with average asking rents reaching £1,325 according to the HomeLet Rental Index, April 2026 - a 2.1% increase on the same month last year. The arrival of the Renters' Rights Act (the legislation that abolishes fixed-term tenancies and restricts rent increase mechanisms) means that steady upward drift is now happening inside a fundamentally different legal framework.
What does the April 2026 data actually tell us?
The headline number of £1,325 is important, but the trend behind it matters more. April marks the second straight monthly gain: rents were £1,311 in March and £1,298 a year ago. That is a modest but unbroken climb rather than the sharp spike seen in 2022 and 2023.
Strip out Greater London and the picture softens slightly. The rest of the UK averaged £1,135 in April - up 0.9% on March and 1.8% on April 2025. The gap between London and the national average remains wide, but both are moving in the same direction.
The HomeLet data shows the strongest annual growth at the periphery of the market. Northern Ireland leads at +5.4% year-on-year, followed by the North East at +4.9% and Scotland at +3.7%. These are regions where rents started from a lower base, which means yield (the annual rental income as a percentage of purchase price) can still look attractive to investors willing to look beyond the South East. Explore how that stacks up for your own portfolio with our free stress test calculator.
Which regions are moving fastest right now?
Monthly momentum tells a different story to annual growth. Northern Ireland posted the sharpest month-on-month rise at +2.0%, taking average rents to £974. The South West gained +1.5% to reach £1,201, while Greater London also rose +1.5% to £2,128. The North West and East of England both added +1.4%, sitting at £1,091 and £1,300 respectively.
At the other end, the South East was flat month-on-month at £1,431, and the East of England's annual growth is effectively zero at +0.1% year-on-year - a reminder that not every market is tightening at the same pace. Understanding those regional splits is central to any property investment strategy built on rental income.
What does the Renters' Rights Act change for landlords?
The Renters' Rights Act (RRA) removes the ability for landlords to use Section 21 no-fault evictions and restricts the mechanisms through which rents can be increased mid-tenancy. For landlords who held on hoping to lock in a higher rent before the Act took effect, that window has now closed.
The underlying picture the data shows is not crisis - rents are rising, voids remain low, and demand continues to outpace supply in most regions. But the pace of growth is measured rather than rapid, which means landlords cannot rely on annual uplifts to absorb rising mortgage costs on their own. Understanding the full legal and financial picture is worth the effort; our free resources on the Renters' Rights Act cover the key changes in plain English.
For those considering whether to refinance ahead of further rate moves, the negotiation and finance guide sets out the options clearly.
Key takeaways
UK average rent reached £1,325 in April 2026, up 1.1% month-on-month and 2.1% year-on-year (HomeLet Rental Index).
Northern Ireland recorded the strongest annual growth at +5.4% year-on-year, with average rents at £974.
Greater London continues to pull the national average up, averaging £2,128 - £993 above the UK ex-London figure.
The Renters' Rights Act is now in effect, closing the pre-Act window for uncapped rent reviews.
Growth is steady but measured; landlords cannot rely on rent rises alone to cover rising finance costs.
