Wales and the North East are experiencing essentially the most acute affordability pressures within the UK rental market, in line with the newest Rental Value and Common Wage Tracker from Propertymark.
In Wales, common rents climbed 3% month-on-month, rising from £995 in September to £1,025 in October. Nevertheless, the everyday wage wanted to safe a house fell barely year-on-year, dipping 0.4% from £30,870 to £30,750.
The state of affairs is much more pronounced within the North East, the place rents jumped 6.1% month-on-month – from £859 to £911 – whereas the wage required to afford a property fell by 20.6% year-on-year, from £34,410 to £27,330. This sharp distinction highlights a rising imbalance between rental prices and native earnings, signalling rising affordability pressures throughout the area.
London, Scotland, and components of the South have seen a slight easing in affordability pressures, in line with Propertymark’s newest tracker. Nevertheless, these areas proceed to rank among the many most costly locations to lease within the UK.
In London, the everyday wage required to lease a property fell by 3.6%, from £69,780 to £67,290, whereas rents dropped 5.8% month-on-month, from £2,382 to £2,243.
Scotland additionally recorded some reduction, with the required wage down 3.4% (from £32,730 to £31,620) and common rents reducing 3.9%, from £1,097 to £1,054.
Within the South East, affordability improved marginally because the wage wanted dipped 1.5% (from £45,360 to £44,670), whereas rents remained largely secure, edging down 0.5% from £1,496 to £1,489.
Regardless of these modest enhancements, affordability in these areas stays stretched, reflecting the UK’s continued imbalance between wage progress and rental demand.
The East Midlands, East of England, and West Midlands displayed different developments in rental affordability within the newest Propertymark tracker.
Within the East Midlands, the wage required to lease rose 1.9%, from £30,810 to £31,380, whereas common rents jumped 5.6%, from £991 to £1,046, highlighting rising stress for tenants within the area.
The East of England noticed comparatively little change, with salaries growing marginally by 0.15% (from £40,080 to £40,140) and rents falling barely 0.3%, from £1,342 to £1,338, suggesting a largely secure rental market.
Within the West Midlands, affordability remained principally unchanged. The wage required dipped 0.2%, from £31,590 to £31,530, whereas rents stayed flat, edging down 0.5% from £1,056 to £1,051.
These figures point out that whereas some areas are experiencing rising pressures, others stay comparatively balanced, reflecting the uneven panorama of the UK rental market.
This month-to-month report offers a complete evaluation of the present non-public rented sector within the UK by analyzing the common agreed rental costs alongside the everyday common annual wage required by referencing companies to affordably lease throughout the nation.
By exploring these key indicators, Propertymark says it goals to make clear the affordability and accessibility of personal rented housing relative to revenue ranges, providing worthwhile insights for particularly for these navigating the dynamic panorama of the UK’s housing market.
October 2025:
| Location | Common rental value | Consultant common annual wage wanted to safe the average-priced residence (earlier than tax and any deductions) |
| Scotland | £1,054 | £31,620 |
| Northern Eire | £918 | £27,540 |
| Wales | £1,025 | £30,750 |
| East Midlands | £1,046 | £31,380 |
| East of England | £1,338 | £40,140 |
| London (internal and outer London) | £2,243 | £67,290 |
| North East | £911 | £27,330 |
| North West | £1,095 | £32,850 |
| South East | £1,489 | £44,670 |
| South West | £1,314 | £39,420 |
| West Midlands | £1,051 | £31,530 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £995 | £29,850 |
October 2024:
| Location | Common rental value 2024 | Consultant common annual wage wanted to safe the average-priced residence (earlier than tax and any deductions) |
| Scotland | £1,091 | £32,730 |
| Northern Eire | £892 | £26,760 |
| Wales | £1,029 | £30,870 |
| East Midlands | £1,027 | £30,810 |
| East of England | £1,336 | £40,080 |
| London (internal and outer London) | £2,326 | £69,780 |
| North East | £1,147 | £34,410 |
| North West | £1,079 | £32,370 |
| South East | £1,512 | £45,360 |
| South West | £1,274 | £38,220 |
| West Midlands | £1,053 | £31,590 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £950 | £28,500 |
Change seen within the common wage required yr on yr:
| Location | October 2024 – typical annual wage wanted to safe a house (earlier than tax and deductions) | October 2025 – typical annual wage wanted to safe a house (earlier than tax and deductions) | % change in wage wanted |
| Scotland | £32,730 | £31,620 | -3.4% |
| Northern Eire | £26,760 | £27,540 | +2.9% |
| Wales | £30,870 | £30,750 | -0.4% |
| East Midlands | £30,810 | £31,380 | +1.9% |
| East of England | £40,080 | £40,140 | +0.15% |
| London (internal and outer London) | £69,780 | £67,290 | -3.6% |
| North East | £34,410 | £27,330 | -20.6% |
| North West | £32,370 | £32,850 | +1.5% |
| South East | £45,360 | £44,670 | -1.5% |
| South West | £38,220 | £39,420 | +3.2% |
| West Midlands | £31,590 | £31,530 | -0.2% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £28,500 | £29,850 | +4.7% |
Common month-to-month rental value month-on-month comparability (September 2025 in comparison with October 2025):
| Location | Common month-to-month rental value – September 2025 | Common month-to-month rental value – October 2025 | Proportion change (distinction from Sept to Oct) |
| Scotland | £1,097 | £1,054 | −3.9% |
| Northern Eire | £928 | £918 | −1.1% |
| Wales | £995 | £1,025 | +3.02% |
| East Midlands | £991 | £1,046 | +5.6% |
| East of England | £1,342 | £1,338 | −0.3% |
| London (internal and outer London) | £2,382 | £2,243 | −5.8% |
| North East | £859 | £911 | +6.1% |
| North West | £1,131 | £1,095 | −3.2% |
| South East | £1,496 | £1,489 | −0.5% |
| South West | £1,242 | £1,314 | +5.8% |
| West Midlands | £1,056 | £1,051 | −0.5% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £997 | £995 | −0.2% |
Megan Eighteen, President of ARLA Propertymark (Affiliation of Residential Letting Brokers), commented: “Rents have risen throughout many components of the UK, however the market stays lively and resilient, underpinned by robust tenant demand.
“Provide is beneath stress, with some landlords leaving the sector attributable to rising prices and regulatory adjustments, whereas new skilled landlords are coming into the market and investing for the long run, serving to to carry much-needed inventory again into circulation. Nevertheless, this will not be sufficient to satisfy ongoing, rising demand, and help is required to encourage additional funding.
“Rising operational prices, from vitality effectivity necessities to upkeep and insurance coverage, are influencing lease ranges, however brokers and landlords are working onerous to maintain tenancies truthful, sustainable, and secure.
“With the appropriate coverage help and continued funding, the non-public rental sector can proceed to offer high-quality houses for tenants whereas remaining a viable and engaging marketplace for landlords.”
