UK house price growth slowed in May 2026 while private rents continued to increase, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and HM Land Registry.

Average UK house prices increased by 2.7% in the 12 months to May 2026, taking the average property value to £271,000. This represented a slowdown from the revised annual growth rate of 3.9% recorded in April, largely reflecting the comparison with the Stamp Duty Land Tax changes introduced in April 2025 in England and Northern Ireland.

Regional performance continued to vary significantly. Scotland recorded annual house price growth of 4.4%, Wales 4.2% and England 2.3%, while Northern Ireland saw prices rise by 7.4% in the first quarter of 2026. Within England, the North East remained the strongest-performing region, with annual growth of 5.9%, while London recorded its ninth consecutive annual fall, with average prices down 3.7%.

Meanwhile, rental inflation remained unchanged at 3.3% in the year to June 2026, pushing the average monthly UK private rent to £1,388. Average monthly rents reached £1,446 in England, £843 in Wales and £1,012 in Scotland, while the North East recorded the strongest annual rental growth at 6.3%.

The latest figures suggest the sales market is returning to more modest levels of growth following tax-driven volatility last year, while continued supply pressures are maintaining steady upward momentum in the rental sector.