Overview
- ONS data show UK private rents rose 3.5% in the year to January 2026, the slowest pace since March 2022, with the average monthly rent at £1,367.
- UK house prices increased 2.4% year on year in December 2025 but fell 0.7% on the month, leaving the average property value at £270,000.
- London recorded a 1% annual drop in prices to an average of about £551,000, contrasting with stronger gains reported in parts of the North.
- Rental growth varied widely by area, with Wales up 5.8%, Northern Ireland up 5.6% to November, and the North East of England up 8.0% despite having the lowest average rent.
- Major lenders have cut mortgage deals as competition heats up, though industry figures caution that affordability pressures and remortgage risks persist.