UK private rent growth accelerated in July 2026 while house price inflation slowed for a second consecutive month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Average UK monthly private rents increased by 3.7% in the year to July 2026 to £1,393, equivalent to an additional £50 a month. This was up from annual growth of 3.3% in June and represented the highest rate of rent inflation since December 2025.
In England, average rents increased by 3.8% (£53) to £1,451, while Wales recorded a 4.5% (£36) rise to £843. Scotland saw rents increase by 1.7% (£17) to £1,016, the second consecutive month in which annual rental inflation has increased following almost three years of generally slowing growth.
Regional differences within England remained substantial. The North East continued to record the strongest annual rental growth at 6.3%, while the South East had the lowest at 2.9%. London's annual rate increased sharply from 2.2% in June to 3.0% in July, following monthly rent growth of 0.6%.
London remained by far the most expensive English region, with an average monthly rent of £2,317, compared with £783 in the North East. At local level, Kensington and Chelsea recorded the UK's highest average rent at £3,629, while Dumfries and Galloway was lowest at £554. Outside London, Oxford had the highest average monthly rent at £1,966.
Meanwhile, average UK house prices increased by 2.0% in the year to June 2026 to £272,000, slowing from revised annual growth of 3.0% in May. Prices increased by just 0.1% between May and June, compared with 1.0% over the same period last year.
Average house prices reached £293,000 in England, up 1.8%, £213,000 in Wales, also up 1.8%, and £195,000 in Scotland, an increase of 2.3%. Northern Ireland recorded significantly stronger growth, with average prices increasing 9.2% year-on-year to £202,000 in the second quarter.
Within England, the North West recorded the strongest annual house price growth at 4.7%. London remained the weakest region, with prices falling 2.5% year-on-year – the tenth consecutive month of annual house price declines in the capital.
