The typical rent of a newly agreed let dipped by 0.7% across Britain in 2025 – the first time since Hamptons’ records began in 2011.

By the end of 2025, five of the 11 regions in Great Britain recorded falling rents, up from none at the end of 2024.

While newly agreed rents have dipped year-on-year in individual months before, 2025 marked the first time they fell across a full calendar year since the Hamptons Lettings Index was launched 15 years ago.

So right now the average tenant moving into a property pays £1,371 per month, £10 a month less than last year for the same home.

London and the regions in detail

London recorded the largest falls in newly agreed rents, down 2.7% (or £63 pcm) over 2025, taking rents back to June 2023 levels.  

However, by December, rents were also falling in the South East (-1.0%), the East Midlands (-0.2%), Yorkshire & Humber (-1.4%) and in Wales (-0.8%).

Three further regions – East of England (0.5%), South West (0.7%) and Scotland (0.5%) – saw growth below 1.0% in 2025.  

Their current trajectory suggests that these regions could tip into recording falls in early 2026.

Stock levels ended the year 6% higher than in December 2024.  

But perhaps more strikingly, the number of homes available to rent was only 8% below 2019 levels. 

During the post-Covid boom, when rents were rising by double-digits, the number of homes on the rental market fell 52% below 2019 levels.  

December’s increase in stock primarily reflects weaker demand from renters rather than a jump in new landlord purchases.