The number of existing tenants seeing their rent increase fell sharply in the first month following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, according to the latest Hamptons Monthly Lettings Index.

Hamptons found that the number of tenants experiencing a rent rise in May was 23% lower than a year earlier and 16% below the five-year average for the month. If the pattern recorded in May were repeated throughout the year, around 31% of sitting tenants would see their rent increase, down from 40% over the 12 months to May 2025 and 50% in early 2024.

Aneisha Beveridge, Head of Research at Hamptons, said: “One of the first impacts of the Renters’ Rights Act has been a reduction in the number of existing tenants seeing their rent rise.

“If the pattern seen in Scotland plays out in England, tenants may see their rent rise less often going forward. However, the size of the increase may be larger, bridging the gap that can build up between what tenants are currently paying and the prevailing market rate.”

Among those tenants whose rent did increase, the average rise was 5.4%, unchanged from April but below the 7.3% recorded when rental growth peaked. Scotland recorded the largest increases, with rents rising by an average of 7.7%.

Meanwhile, rental growth for newly agreed tenancies remained subdued. The average rent for a new let across Great Britain rose by 1.1% year-on-year to £1,382 per month, while rents in the South East reached £1,500 for the first time outside London.

The findings suggest landlords are adjusting to the new rules, with fewer but potentially larger rent increases becoming the norm.