Renters are better off today than a year ago

When accounting for inflation, renters are better off today than they were a year ago despite nominal rent increases of up to 14 per cent.

That’s the view of specialist rental platform Ocasa.

It says the latest data shows that, without adjusting for inflation, the average price of rent in the UK is currently £1,143 per month. This is 21.7 per cent higher than 2017’s average of £939 and 8.5 per cent higher than this time last year when the average price was £1,053.

Regionally, the rent hikes have been even higher, such as in Scotland where the nominal price of rent is now 13.6 per cent more expensive than it was last year and almost 40 per cent higher than it was five years ago.

In Northern Ireland, the annual rent increase is 12.9 per cent. In London it’s up 10.8 per cent while in the North West and South East, there have been annual increases of 9.9 and 8.1 per cent respectively.

However, despite the increasing cost of rent, when prices are adjusted for inflation, it’s revealed that renters are actually better off today than they were last year.

After adjusting for inflation, the average rent in the UK this time last year was £1,162.

This is 1.7 per cent cheaper than today’s average of £1,143 proving that, in real terms, tenants are actually paying a lower level today than last year due to the fact that the cost of renting, while certainly escalating, has not kept pace with inflation.

Renters are benefiting the most in the North East where the real cost of rent is 5.8 per cent lower this year compared to last. In the East Midlands, tenants are paying 3.7 per cent less and in the South West, they’re 3.4 per cent better off.

Renters aren’t, however, benefitting in all corners of the UK. Once adjusted for inflation, rent in Scotland is 2.9 per cent higher today than it was last year. In Northern Ireland, the increase is 2.3 per cent and in London, tenants are 0.4 per cent worse off.

The sales and marketing director at Ocasa, Jack Godby, comments: “It’s quite crazy to think that the cost of renting is currently more manageable now than it was a year ago once adjusting for inflation.

“However, you’ll be hard pressed to find a tenant who believes they are in a better place when it comes to rental market affordability as they are currently being squeezed on all sides due to the cost of living crisis, with prices for everything from energy to groceries hitting unprecedented highs.

“So while the cost of renting may not have kept pace with inflation, it’s fair to say that the task of tackling the rental market has never been harder.

“And lest we forget that renters in London, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are going to feel the burn of rising costs even more than most, because their rent payments have grown so high that they are paying more even after adjusting for inflation.”

* Ocasa is a specialist rental platform *

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Andrew townshend
15 October 2022 11:33 AM

It's always difficult increasing the rent of good existing tenants, I have had quite a few move on over the last couple of years giving me a chance to get in and carry out repairs, improvements and decorate, then up the rent to market rates, and no shortage of takers