After six months of annual rent price rises of 10% or higher, the latest findings from the HomeLet Rental Index have shown rent prices have slowed below double figures to an average annual increase of 8.5% across the UK. For the three months to September 2015, every region of the UK with the exception of the East Midlands has seen annual rent price rises slow down or move into negative growth.

The figures reveal that 9 out of 12 UK regions are still seeing rent prices rise on an annual basis, with the largest increases seen in Scotland at 8.4%, the East Midlands at 7.7% and Greater London at 6.6%. The figures also show three regions in negative annual price movement, with prices in the North West 4.6% lower than a year ago, 2.2% lower in East Anglia and 1.4% lower in Northern Ireland.

Comparing September figures to the previous month, the Index reveals that only three regions have seen rent prices rise since August. In the three months to September 2015 only Scotland, the East Midlands and West Midlands have seen prices rise – by 1.2%, 1.4% and 1.4% respectively.